Turbulence. Disorder. Turmoil.

A gripping exploration of a family’s descent into psychological and physical self-destruction, all due to the corrupt morality of a domineering patriarch Zhou Puyuan. In the course of 24 hours, shocking familial taboos and festering social class struggles bring tensions to a head as Zhou’s family hurtles toward their inevitable fate.

Thunderstorm—the debut dramatic work of Cao Yu (1910–96), regarded as the founding father of modern Chinese drama—has grown in stature to become one of the most significant Chinese dramatic works in the past century. This powerful portrayal of human complexity has been staged countless times, and also adapted to Chinese opera, dance and film, including film director Zhang Yimou’s Oscar-nominated Curse of the Golden Flower.

Now, acclaimed theatre director Li Liuyi applies his unique theatrical vision to this classic work of art with scenographer and costume and make-up designer William Chang Suk-ping, and an illustrious star-studded cast that includes movie star Hu Jun as the patriarch Zhou Puyuan, Lu Fang as his wife Zhou Fanyi, and Miao Chi as his son Zhou Ping. This is an artistic reunion of the team from the well-received Hamlet that was presented at Esplanade’s Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts in 2019.

Arriving in Singapore as the last stop of an Asian tour that has seen sold-out shows at the Hong Kong Arts Festival, this long-awaited presentation is set to take Esplanade by storm!

Playwright Cao Yu

Director Li Liuyi

Scenographer, Costume and Makeup Designer William Chang Suk-ping

Lighting Designer Deng Wen

Producer Zhang Minyi  

Production Jixin Culture (Beijing) Ltd., Li Liuyi Theatre Studio

Main Cast:

Hu Jun as Zhou Puyuan

Lu Fang as  Zhou Fanyi

Li Hong as Lu Shiping

Miao Chi as Zhou Ping

Li Xiao Meng as Lu Sifeng

Thunderstorm is produced by Jixin Culture (Beijing) Ltd. and Beijing Li Liuyi Theatre Studio, and co-commissioned by Hong Kong Arts Festival.