Zhou Yuyuan President of China Children's Art Theatre

Zhou Yuyuan began his professional life as an actor after honing his talents at the Central Experiment Drama Company (CEDC). He has successfully played the role of a number of Chinese and foreign characters, ancient and modern, but the performance that catapulted to fame was his portrayal of Premier Zhou Enlai in the stage drama Zhou Enlai in 1991. The role earned him an award for outstanding performance from the Ministry of Culture. In 1997, he picked up an Actor of Excellence award for his role in the Chinese film Die Hard.

Zhou was made vice-president of the CEDC in 1999 shortly before graduating from the Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC. He was appointed vice-president of the National Theatre Company of China in 2002 and then vice-president of China Children’s Art Theatre (CCAT) in June 2004, where he was promoted to president a year later. During this period, Zhou began to shift from acting to directing children’s dramas. In 2007, Zhou Yuyuan was elected as an outstanding drama artist by the Ministry of Culture. His children’s drama Twelve Months was recognised at the Fifth National Children’s Drama Exhibition and his A Tadpole’s Journey in Search for his Mom won a Work of Excellence award.

Under Zhou’s leadership, the CCAT established the Holiday Theatre for Classics, the first theatre dedicated to staging children’s dramas in China. The aim of the theatre is to introduce young audiences to stage versions of classic eastern and western stories so they can appreciate how live performances can bring a new dimension to familiar tales.

Zhou Yuyuan is renowned for his innovative approach to children’s drama. He once put on an animated stage version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, by bringing together human actors and puppets. He has also placed great emphasis on incorporating an international flavour into children’s drama in China. Pipi Long Socks, a family musical jointly produced by Chinese and Sweden artists, won unanimous praise from audiences, critics and the Swedish Embassy. Zhou is currently collaborating with a number of internationally celebrated drama directors to bring Chinese culture to children overseas through the productions of Journey to the West and The Twelve Animals. Zhou has also written a number of articles, some of which have been published by Xinhua News Agency, and academic papers such as Preventing Children’s Drama from being Completely Commercialised and A Proposition on the Development of the Animation Industry.