Lost Village, a new theater production co-commissioned and co-produced by the National Theater Company of China, Hong Kong Arts Festival, and New National Theater in Tokyo, will premiere at the 2007 Hong Kong Arts Festival from March 20 to 24.

Lost Village is co-written and co-directed by Li Liuyi from Beijing and Oriza Hirata from Tokyo. These two pioneers of contemporary theater share the same passion: the dialectic of man and history.

The story unfolds with the breaking news of an archaeological discovery in a remote village in China, revealing treasures that trace back to an unknown chapter in history.

The news stops the construction of a Japanese factory, where Chinese and Japanese officials, archaeologists, students, businessmen and looters start arriving. A local teahouse becomes the center of the unexpected encounters and conflicts.

An intriguing story seemingly about the excavation of an ancient archaeological site, Lost Village digs deep into cultural record, offering insights into Sino-Japanese history while exploring humanity and a global vision.

This unprecedented collaborative theater project brings talents from two countries together. The creative sets, including the use of oriental colors, are designed by renowned Chinese stage designer Yan Long with input from famous Japanese lighting designer Tamotsu Iwaki. The 13-strong cast is comprised of eight actors from China and five from Japan.

As a production including both China and Japan, Lost Village is important in three aspects. First, the three arts organizations in this joint venture have always put great emphasis on nurturing original works and building cultural heritage. Secondly, this is the first time the Hong Kong Arts Festival, the National Theater Company of China and the New National Theater of Tokyo, have collaborated. Thirdly, 2007 has been singled out as a year to further cultural relationships between China and Japan. Lost Village is a symbol of these joint efforts in setting a milestone in the chronicles of Asian drama.

Rehearsals for Lost Village are currently under way in Beijing. After its world premiere, Lost Village will be staged at China's Children's Art Theater in Beijing from the March 31 to April 8, and then performed at Tokyo's Seinendan Theater from May 15 to 20.

Touring Schedule:

Hong Kong
20 to 24 March 2007    Studio Theater, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
(Morgan Stanley is sponsoring the premiere run at the 2007 Hong Kong Arts Festival)

Beijing
31 March to 8 April 2007    China Children's Art Theater

Tokyo
15 to 20 May 2007       Seinendan Theater

(CRI.cn February 12, 2007)