The Journey of the “Chinese Hamlet” from Stratford-upon-Avon to the Chinese Musical Stage

The Orphan of Zhao, written by Ji Junxiang during the Yuan Dynasty, is an epic tale of revenge, loyalty, and sacrifice. It takes its inspiration from historical events during the Spring and Autumn Period, recorded in Chinese classics like Chunqiu, Zuozhuan, and Shiji. Known as the Chinese Hamlet, Ji’s The Orphan of Zhao was the first Chinese play translated into Western languages. This influential tale has served as a source of inspiration for countless playwrights and theatergoers over centuries, resulting in numerous adaptations and reinterpretations worldwide. Between May 2021 and April 2023, a musical adaptation of The Orphan of Zhao captivated audiences in many cities across China, receiving wide acclaim and enthusiastic reviews. Intriguingly, this musical adaptation was not based on Ji’s original Chinese version but on a British adaptation by the British poet James Fenton, performed at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from November 2012 to March 2013. The conversion of Fenton’s version into a Chinese musical is a significant event in the realm of East-West cultural exchanges, raising both theoretical and practical questions warranting scholarly investigation. This paper aims to delve into why Xu Jun, the director of the musical, chose to adapt Fenton’s version and examine the journey from Fenton’s adaptation to its Chinese rendition co-translated by Jin Sheng Hwa and Perng Ching-Hsi and finally to Xu Jun’s musical adaptation. This research aims to illuminate the complex processes involved in cross-cultural translation and adaptation, providing insights on transnational transmissions in intercultural theatre.