For a decade, TNT Theatre has been staging Western theatrical classics across the Mainland. They're doing something new with their first French language tour of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's beloved fairy tale. As usual, they're adding their own unique stamp with an original score by Paul Flush. Phil Smith directs and Chinese subtitles will be screened. We chat with TNT founder Paul Stebbings, MBE about the company's growing relationship with China and the Le Petit Prince tour that stops off at Beijing Chaoyang 9 Theatre-Che (May 19-21), Shenzhen Children's Palace (May 24), Guangzhou Xinghai Concert Hall (May 31) and Shanghai's Lyceum Theatre (June 3-5)
Will Le Petit Prince be the first French language production that you have toured across China?
Yes, this is our first production in any other language except English to tour in China. But TNT works in other languages often, for example Spanish where we have a very successful version of Don Quijote touring internationally.
Why did you decide on this particular show in the first place and what will the subtitle situation be like?
Our wonderful producers Milky Way in Beijing asked if we could bring Le Petit Prince to China. They thought that the book is very popular so why not try the original. It is an experiment for all of us but art should be about daring to do new things - so here we are!
Is it a common thing for TNT Theatre to tour with non-English shows across the world?
I have directed plays in English, Russian, Greek, German, Spanish and Mandarin. I even directed one in English, Italian and German - it was about Shakespeare, Michelangelo and Freud meeting up! I also directed A Midsummer Night's Dream in Shanghaiese dialect in April so that will add a new language. But overall I believe that theatre is a language so the fact that I can direct in languages I do not speak seems to prove that!
For Le Petit Prince, is the show a full-on TNT Theatre production or is the cast/director from France?
The production is created by the TNT team, it is its second year of touring. It was originally created by Phil Smith and myself but since has been directed by Eric Tessier Lavigne. Eric is permanent TNT member, and has toured in China with TNT many times. But he is also from Montreal so is a native French speaker. All the actors are French or grew up in France, so this is the real thing!
You do quiet a lot of work with local theatre groups in China.
I do a lot of work in Latin America too , last year I directed Romeo and Juliet in Spanish there and they put on my production of Dickens' A Christmas Carol. I am also working on a new play about their history too.
Is this a common thing for TNT Theatre to do with all the territories that it visits?
Yes, TNT does seek to go beyond touring to collaborate with native theatre artists in the countries we tour to - it is a logical step. We are very busy so we cannot do too much - but our main focus for co-productions are China and Costa Rica - very different countries!
Could you ever envision a time where TNT Theatre would tour other parts of the world with a Chinese language show?
We are hoping to take my production of The Taming of the Shrew with Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre to tour abroad. It has been such a big hit China we think it will work in other countries too.
Last year, TNT Theatre brought Frankenstein to China. How was the experience and do you envision more diverse TNT offerings coming to China?
We would like to take a wide repertoire to China, we do a very wide repertoire outside of China. But so far the plays that have worked best in China are classics, mainly Shakespeare but also Dickens' Oliver Twist. But we are doing a new play with the SDAC, The Murder of Sherlock Holmes, which is my own version of the great Detective's life and death and was a hit a at the Edinburgh Festival. It will be in Mandarin.
Besides Le Petit Prince, what are some other TNT plans in China for the year?
TNT return with our English language Taming of the Shrewin autumn and we will be back in 2017 with new productions. One idea is Shakespeare's comic masterpiece, Twelth Night.
Is there anything you would like to add?
Our work has really developed in China, one exciting new development is going to second tier cities inland such as Kunming and Chengdu where few foreign theatre companies perform. Maybe this Petit Prince tour can be the start of other work in China in French, Next year we stage a Moliere classic in Europe so who knows?
Le Petit Prince China tour:
Beijing: May 19-21, 7.30pm, RMB60-380. Beijing Chaoyang 9 Theatre-Che, tickets.
Wuhan: May 22, 7.30pm, RMB60-360. Wuhan Zhongnan Theatre, tickets.
Shenzhen: May 24, 8pm, RMB80-300. Shenzhen Children's Palace, tickets.
Guangzhou: May 25-26, 7.30pm, RMB100-320. Guangzhou Xinghai Concert Hall - Chamber Hall, tickets.
Suzhou: May 31, 7.30pm, RMB60-280. Suzhou Du Shu Hu Ying Theatre, tickets.
Nanjing: June 2, 7.30pm, RMB60-320. Nanjing Culture and Art Centre, tickets.
Shanghai: June 3-5, 7.30pm (Fri-Sat) and 2pm (Sat-Sun), RMB80-30. Lyceum Theatre, tickets.
Beijing: June 9, 7pm, RMB60-280. Rulun Lecture Hall of Renmin University, tickets.
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