Theatre

Hong Kong writer Lillian Li’s celebrated novel Green Snake is perhaps the most daring reimagining of the Chinese classic romance Legend of the White Snake. Departing from the traditional story of eternal love and unshakable fidelity, she takes unrestrained desire, jealousy and lust as the premise. She portrays the two snake spirits, White and her sister Green, in their forbidden love for an innocent young man and a powerful monk. Love and temptation overrule moral values; both goddesses and mortals are beyond redemption.

Tian Qinxin of the National Theatre of China, a director renowned for her acute female sensitivity and innovative aesthetics, teams up with designers and music composer from the National Theatre of Scotland to recreate the spectacular scenes of this myth set on West Lake, the most mysterious and poetically scenic location in China. The all new-production is performed by an award-winning cast. After the world premiere at the Festival, the work will tour nationally and internationally. Performances are scheduled in Shanghai, Beijing, Singapore and Scotland.