British theater director Andy Arnold directed the first theater production of "Ulysses" in 2013. (Photo : China Daily)
British theater director Andy Arnold and veteran Chinese theater director Yi Liming are set collaborate for a "Ulysses" theater production in China as part of the 2015 U.K.-China Year of Cultural Exchange, Yi announced in a conference in March.
According to Yi, "Ulysses" will be one of the 25 plays which will be portrayed in the stages of Beijing, Shanghai, Jinan and Hangzhou in June.
All other theater productions will be directed by prominent theater directors from China and the U.K.
Yi narrated that several years ago, he had a difficulty of understanding the classic novel by Irish writer James Joyce.
In 2013, the director saw a poster of a "Ulysses" theater production directed by Arnold in the Edinburgh International Festival and bought a ticket for the show.
After watching the play, Yi finished reading the book and decided to bring the "Ulysses" production to China.
"It is the magic of theater. The director interprets the novel onstage, which is an easy way for the audience to learn the essence of the book," Yi told China Daily.
The director added that he wanted the Chinese audience to understand the novel better through the theater production.
China Daily remarked Yi's plan as a small wish that turned out into a big event.
"Ulysses" is based on a classic novel by Irish writer James Joyce. It is derived from the Latin name "Odysseus," a character in ancient Greek literature.
Its first theater production was directed by Arnold in 2013 during the Edinburgh International Festival in Scotland.
