A Comparative Study of the Chinese and Russian Presentations of Shakespeare’s Macbeth in the Perspective of Intercultural Theatre
A Comparative Study of the Chinese and Russian Presentations of Shakespeare’s Macbeth in the Perspective of Intercultural Theatre

Summary/Abstract: In 2017, one of the most famous Shakespeare tragedies, Macbeth, directed respectively by China’s first-class director Chen Dalian and one of the leading European directors Luk Perceval, gained new forms in exotic countries and yet still displayed its eternal charisma and magnificent power. The two interpretations gave the Chinese audience an unprecedented experience due to their strong visual impact. The Chinese version marked a new level in the creation and performance of modern Chinese drama and was widely acclaimed. However, the Russian version seemed an “over-experimental” play to the Chinese audience, so it could not be fully understood and accepted. This paper compares the Chinese experimental interpretation of Macbeth with the Russian one from the perspective of intercultural theatre by using theories proposed by many international theatre critics, such as Antonin Artaud, Jerzy Grotowski, Peter Brook, Eugenio Barba and Richard Schechner, analyzing the stage design, directing concepts and performing skills. It then elaborates on the inner connections of the two adaptations by the two directors from China and Russia by analyzing the complexity of the relationship between audience and performance in intercultural theatre, and the transformation and reception of the cross-cultural adaptation of Shakespeare’s plays in China and Russia.

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