Promotional material for Chinese version of Roméo & Juliette Photo: Courtesy of Guo Baodan

Promotional material for Chinese version of Roméo & Juliette Photo: Courtesy of Guo Baodan

Promotional material for Chinese version of Roméo & Juliette Photo: Courtesy of Guo Baodan

The Chinese version of Roméo & Juliette, a French musical based on William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet will take the stage at Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center from December 24. 

The play, which follows the original version with music and lyrics by Gerard Presgurvic, tells the romantic tragedy through performances from singers A Yunga and Xu Yao. 

According to its director Carl Portal, the wonderful interpretation from Chinese actors and the sympathy Chinese audiences have for the characters in the play will allow this work to be "reborn like a phoenix." 

"It has been a dream for me since I was in college, that one day I could perform in Romeo and Juliet. It finally came true. It is a love story without any borders," said A, who often observed the other three younger actors to find the correct "juvenile feeling" as Romeo in Shakespeare's original work is just a teenager.