Chinese "Cuckoo's Nest" to debut in Beijing

A Chinese version of Broadway's "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest" is to be staged at the Haidian Theatre from May 30 to June 10, 2018 in Beijing, reports thepaper.cn.

Rehearsal of the Chinese version of "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest," which will be staged in Beijing starting May 30, 2018 [Photo: thepaper.cn]

"The drama's Chinese version centers on self-breakthrough and depicts the ambition, strength and hope of the 'lunatics,'" said Tong Xinyu, director of the drama.

A producer of the stage performance says to better understand the roles, actors paid field visits to mental institutions to better understand how people in these facilities live. The actors also met with doctors on-site.

A photo from a Broadway performance of "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest," which is being staged in Chinese in Beijing starting May 30, 2018 [Photo: thepaper.cn]

Director Tong Xinyu says they hope to localize the characters, making the scenarios played out on the stage more tolerant, gentle and in line with what Chinese audiences would accept.

"One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest" was originally a novel written in 1962 by Ken Kesey, which is meant to reflect the American counterculture movement at the time during the so-called "Hippie Era."

Best known for its film adaptation, "Cookoo's Nest" has been staged over a thousand times both on and off-Broadway in the United States.

In 2001, it was restaged on Broadway, winning a Tony Award for Best Revival (Play).