The curtain will rise on "Ming," the name of the Chinese version of "King Lear," at the Third Festival of National Theaters China, in Beijing Friday night at the National Center of the Performing Arts.

The drama, produced by the National Theater Company of China (NTCC), depicts a story in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) with a plot parallel to the Shakespeare classic.

"I adjust the three daughters of King Lear to the three sons of Zhu Yuanzhang, first emperor of the Ming Dynasty," said Tian Qinxin, director of the play.

"It will be overflowing with Chinese elements in terms of stage effect, " she said.

The play will run until Oct. 15, but tickets are hard to come by with Friday's tickets sold out two weeks ago.

"Ming" is part of the NTCC's effort to mark the 444th birthday of Shakespeare.

The festival will also show "The Taming of the Shrew" by British TNT Theater, "Romeo and Juliet" by Mokhwa Repertory Company from the Republic of Korea, and two interpretations of "Hamlet." One is put on by the Russian Drama Theater named After M. Gorky Astana of Kazakhstan and the other by renowned Chinese director Lin Zhaohua. These plays will be staged in theaters around Beijing.

"Romeo and Juliet" from the Vilnius City Theater from the Republic of Lithuania will conclude the festival on Nov. 2 at the the National Center of the Performing Arts. It is a work by honored director, Oskaras Korsunovas. It has been celebrated wherever it plays.

Started in 2004, the international festival is put on every two years by the NTCC.

"Patrons could expect a great line-up of outstanding dramas this autumn," said Luo Dajun, NTCC assistant president, who is also in charge of the gala.

"We want the festival to be a platform for different theaters from different countries to share ideas. On our part, we have learned a lot from our overseas counterparts in the previous festivals," Luo added.

(Xinhua News Agency October 10, 2008)