A troupe of Tibetan performers staged a production of Shakespeare's classic play "Hamlet" in both Tibetan and Mandarin at Beijing's Capital Theater.

Directed by veteran actor Pu Cunxin, the production features 22 college graduates from an all-Tibetan class that enrolled in the Shanghai Theater Academy in 2017. They incorporated Tibetan folk singing and dancing into their performance, providing a unique perspective on this celebrated Shakespearean tragedy.

The 22 Tibetan performers brought their own interpretation to the play, infusing it with elements of Tibetan culture, such as the traditional Guozhuang dance and folk singing. Pu Cunxin, who previously played the protagonist Hamlet, directed the group to help them pursue their dreams.

"For me, it felt like I was back in my school days. The Tibetan performers really started from scratch, but I could feel their sincerity. I remembered when I taught them during their freshman year, their ability to improvise really impressed me," said Pu.

Incorporating the Tibetan people's strong religious beliefs, the play takes on a musical and poetic form. Even Ophelia's drowning scene is portrayed as a joyful moment rather than a tragic one, thanks to the accompanying Tibetan folk songs. This approach sheds new light on Shakespeare's work, offering fresh revelations about life and death.

Pu said he has been impressed by the Tibetan performers' ability to interpret Shakespeare's works for over 40 years, ever since he saw a graduate performance of "Romeo and Juliet" by the Tibetan drama class at the Shanghai Theater Academy in 1982. The young performers expressed their belief that presenting virtues such as justice and kindness in masterpieces like "Hamlet" is something that can resonate with any audience, regardless of nationality.

"I'm confident Chinese culture can interpret world literary classics, especially through ethnic cultures, because of the richness of their languages, as well as their poetic and musical expressions," said Pu. 

The production of "Hamlet" offers a new interpretation of this old classic, showcasing the beauty of Tibetan culture and language. As Pu noted, it demonstrates the ability of Chinese culture to interpret literary classics from around the world.