The National Center for the Performing Arts will present Goethe's seminal work Faust under veteran director Xu Xiaozhong.

The play's cast will be drawn from the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center and will include some of the best parts of the story, such as the devil's temptation.

Xu, 81, is considered to be the "godfather" of Chinese theater and many famous directors have apprenticed under him, such as Wang Xiaoying and Zha Mingzhe.

Everything in Faust bears Xu's stamp - from the choice of characters, costumes, and lighting to the backstage management. Faust could well be the grand old man's last theater effort.

Michelangelo's Genesis forms the backdrop for the play, while Liszt's pieces A Faust Symphony in Full Score and Dreams of Love help set the mood for the tragic story.

Light designer Xiao Lihe keeps it simple, especially for Xu's depiction of "the path of life". The giant stage can even spin around to reflect the troubles Faust encounters in the search for his soul.

7:30 pm, Aug 29, 30. The National Center for the Performing Arts, 6655-0000

國家大劇院