On Oct 26, the 2024 Guilin Festival opened with a powerful performance of The Spring and Autumn of Drama at the Guangxi Provincial Art Museum. The revival is especially significant because it is being held at the same place that the Southwest Drama Exhibition was first held 80 years ago.

The original version was written by prominent playwrights Xia Yan, Song Zhidi, and Yu Ling, and premiered as the finale of the Southwest Drama Exhibition in 1944. At a time when China was engaged in its fight for independence, the three-month-long festival served as a beacon of resilience, inspiring countless individuals to join the anti-Japanese resistance.

Regarded as China's first play reflecting the lives and struggles of theater workers, The Spring and Autumn of Drama depicts the journey of dedicated drama performers who, through multiple scenes, navigate the challenging tides of the era, from civilizational new theater to wartime resistance performances. It became a milestone in Chinese theater, celebrated for capturing the spirit of unity and sacrifice.

At this year's opening ceremony, students and faculty from the Central Academy of Drama brought the historical production to life, paying tribute to the pioneering figures of Chinese theater. According to director Li Shan, the revival aims to rekindle the historical legacy of Guilin and share the resilience of China's theater tradition with modern audiences.

A scene from The Spring and Autumn of Drama. [Photo by He Pingjiang/Guilin Daily]