A still of "Yuan Ye" [xinmin.cn]

A series of performances will be staged to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Cao Yu, a well-known playwright, at the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in the new year.

"Yuan Ye," or "The Field," a play performed by the Tianjin People's Art Theater will kick off the event on January 6, said Ni Min, a communication officer of the NCPA, on Wednesday.

The tragedy, set in a forest, follows a peasant Qiu Hu's story of seeking revenge on a land owner for the murder of his father and trafficking his sister. It debuted in Shanghai in 1937.

Wan Fang, daughter of Cao and a famous writer, said the performance by the Tianjin theater captured the soul of the original script by her father by highlighting darkness, desolation and mystery.

The play will last until January 17 at the NCPA and will be complemented by other works by the playwright, including "Sunrise" and "Thunderstorm" and "Peking Man," Ni said.

"But we are still working on the schedule for these plays," he added.

Cao Yu was mostly remembered for his efforts in helping modern drama be accepted by Chinese audiences.