The prestigious Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre in China teamed up with Gecko to stage a new piece of work - THE DREAMER - inspired by two playwrights considered the most influential in their respective countries: William Shakespeare and Tang Xianzu.

Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre is the only national performing arts company in Shanghai. Famous for its new Chinese-language dramas, as well as performing English-language classics in Chinese, its impressive team of actors, directors, writers and other creatives works across various venues in the French Quarter of the city. This is the company’s Fringe debut.

Gecko is an award-winning and internationally-acclaimed physical theatre company, led by Artistic Director Amit Lahav, established in 2001.

2016 marked not only the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death but also that of his Chinese contemporary, Tang Xianzu. Dreams were a leitmotiv for both writers and THE DREAMER reimagines a dream sequence, inspired by The Peony Pavilion and Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Focusing on strong female characters within both plays and exploring the topics of magic, humour and love in classic Gecko style, the show will blend emotionally driven movement, a spine-tingling soundscape and striking visual storytelling to bring a new twist to these classic works.

Created by Gecko’s associate director Rich Rusk and devising performer Chris Evans (Gecko’s: The Overcoat, Missing, Institute, The Time of your Life, The Wedding), The Dreamer is an international collaboration between Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre and Gecko, created as part of British Council’s 2016 Shakespeare Lives programme.

The Dreamer premiered on 7 October at the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre, commissioned by the British Council as part of the Shakespeare Lives programme.

Amit Lahav, Artistic Director said: “Gecko has been touring to China since 2010 and audiences in the country are very fond of the company and our work. It was extremely exciting to be working on our first ever international co-production with the prestigious Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre and their ensemble of excellent performers. The Dreamer draws on the inspiring work of two influential playwrights in our unique Gecko style and we cannot wait to see how the audience responds to it here in the UK.”

“Rich Rusk has been working with Gecko for eight years and I’m very pleased to see him directing his first Gecko show, which will undoubtedly be exciting, dynamic and imaginative.”

Rich Rusk, Gecko’s Associate Director said: “It was a huge highlight to work on Gecko’s first international collaboration with Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre which celebrates the international appeal and power of theatre of both Shakespeare and his contemporary, Tang Xianzu. We have created a Gecko-style visual feast, and invite our audiences to dive into the world of dreams and unleash their imagination. This co-production is a first of its kind for us and to say I’m excited to be part of it is an understatement.”

Alex Wu, Producer at Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre said: “Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre has continuously been seeking to work with creative and ground-breaking artists from all over the world. After witnessing the success of Gecko’s touring productions Missing and The Overcoat in China, SDAC warmly invited Gecko to present a cross-cultural dialogue between the two giants in western and eastern theatre - William Shakespeare and Tang Xianzu – and discover the emotional connection between classics and modern people, aiming to bring energetic and profound theatrical work to both Chinese and British audiences, as well as audiences in other corners of the world.”

Neil Webb, Director of Theatre & Dance at the British Council said: “Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre has been an important and trusted partner in our work in China for many years. Gecko meanwhile has appeared in several of our Edinburgh Showcases and toured extensively around the world, including in China. I am delighted to see these world-class organisations celebrating the profound influence of such world-class playwrights. And I look forward to seeing the finished work presented to audiences in China and the UK as part of our global Shakespeare Lives programme in 2016.”


The Dreamer
Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre in association with Gecko
Pleasance Courtyard, The Grand
2-4 August 1.30pm, £8.00
14 & 15 August, 1.30pm, £11.50 (£9.50)
10 August, 1.30pm, £12.50 (£11.00)
5-8, 11-13 August 1.30pm, £14.50 (£13.00)
Running time approx. 1hr10mins.

www.china-drama.com
www.geckotheatre.com/the-dreamer
Twitter: @GeckoTheatre

Book tickets www.pleasance.co.uk
CAST and CREATIVES
Director: Rich Rusk
Movement Director: Chris Evans
Producer: Rosalind Wynn
With performers from Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre: Liu Peng, Yang Zi Yi, Wu Jing Wei, Yan Wen, Zhao Yun Long, Zhou Zi Dan, Wang Wei Shuai, Yang Jing Ran, Li Chen Shan
Musician: Ni Peiwen
Design: Rhys Jarman
Lighting Design: Chris Swain
Original Music: Dave Price
Technical Stage Manager/Sound Engineer: Mishi Bekesi

Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre
Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre (SDAC) is the only national dramatic company in Shanghai. It was established in 1995 with the merging of the Shanghai People's Arts Centre Troupe and Youth Drama Troupe – both founded in the 1950s in the early years of the People’s Republic.

Today SDAC’s impressive team of professional playwrights, directors, actors and stage designers operate across multiple spaces in the Centre's towering French Concession headquarters, including the Drama Salon, Art Theatre and Studio D6. SDAC produces new Chinese-language dramas, as well as performing English-language classics in Chinese.

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