Stratford honors literary greats Shakespeare, Tang Xianzu

The literary heritages of England's William Shakespeare and China's Tang Xianzu were celebrated over the weekend at an event held in Shakespeare's hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon, promoting cultural exchanges between China and the United Kingdom.

On Saturday, Zhao Fei, minister of China's Embassy in the UK, and Cai Qing, vice-mayor of Fuzhou, Jiangxi province, led a delegation to participate in the celebration of the 460th anniversary of the birth of Shakespeare, and attended a special performance marking the relations of two locations linked by their revered playwright sons.

Shakespeare and Tang are regarded as the greatest playwrights of their time, and both died in 1616. On the 400th anniversary, in 2016, their birthplaces – Stratford and Fuzhou – became twins.

At the event Meeting at the Peony Pavilion – Tang Xianzu and Shakespeare in Dialogue, Minister Zhao noted that in recent years, China and the UK have deepened people-to-people exchanges around the two literary giants, and the progress of civilization depends on openness and inclusiveness, cultural exchanges, and mutual learning.

"I hope the two sides can carry on the literary exchanges and the sister-city partnership, and contribute to the sound development of China-UK relations, the close bond between the two peoples, and the harmony and progress of human civilizations," said Zhao.

Since 2016, Fuzhou has put great effort into promoting cultural exchanges by opening an exhibition about Shakespeare in Tang Xianzu's memorial museum in Fuzhou, and building a tourist park featuring Tang and Shakespeare, as well as organizing exchanges for troupes and schools, according to the city's vice-mayor.

"We hope to further our cooperation with Stratford-upon-Avon in culture, tourism, and education to promote the social and economic development of both cities," said Cai. "We will organize Tang Xianzu Drama Festival and International Theatre Exchange Month in September and welcome more friends from Stratford-upon-Avon to come and visit us."

Held at the Peony Pavilion, a gift given to Stratford-upon-Avon by Fuzhou in 2019, the event also featured performances from Tang Xianzu's classic play The Peony Pavilion by Chinese Opera singers and doctoral students from the Shakespeare Institute of the University of Birmingham, as well as performances from Shakespeare's classic works by performers of Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

Among the local guests who attended were Christopher Kettle, chairman of Warwickshire County Council, Kate Rolfe, mayor of Stratford-upon-Avon; Lena Orlin, vice-chair of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, and Michael Dobson, director of The Shakespeare Institute.