Cao Yu (1910-1996)

Originally named Wan Jiabao, Cao Yu was born in Tianjin, his ancestral home was in Qianjiang, Hubei Province. He loved theatre ever since his childhood. He started his theatrical career by joining New Theatre Troupe of Nan Kai Middle School at the age of 15. In 1933, when he studied in Tsinghua University, he published his maiden work Thunderstorm as the milestone of his career. The play not only consolidated his leading position in Chinese theatre, but also marked the maturity of Chinese modern theatre. Cao Yu has written more than ten plays in his whole life, besides Thunderstorm, he wrote other representative works including The Sunrise, Peking Man, Family, etc. His works contribute an improvement to the creation of Chinese modern theatre, and have greatly nurtured it as a truly synthetic art form.

Cao Yu is China's most prominent dramatist, who dedicated himself to the cause of Chinese theatre. Among the many positions he held, he devoted most to the position of the president of the theatre. From the founding of the theatre in 1952 to the last moment of his life, he had kept concerning with the theatre's artistic construction. In the past 50 years, the theatre has staged eight of Cao's works for 14 times.

I feel reluctant to regard myself as a writer, as well as a theorist. I just want to write something beneficial to the human being in my short life. How suffering I felt when I can not write out or I have no way to do so. Still I want to keep writing. Those brave, upright and kind people make me happy, and I write about them. Those despicable, fiendish and trifling people make me detest and I write about them. I only wish I would keep writing like this.
--Cao Yu

Jiao Juyin(1905-1975)

A great dramatist and translator, Jiao Juyin started his theatrical activities in his early age. In 1931, he established the Peking Traditional Chinese Opera School, and acted as a president, cultivating a big number of Peking opera artists. In 1935, he received a Ph. D from the Sorbonne in Paris. After the War of Anti-Japanese Invasion broke out, he returned China, and got involved in salvation theatre in Guangxi and Sichuan, meanwhile he translated many works by Golky and Chekov. In 1952, when the theatre was founded, Jiao was appointed as the first deputy president and general director.

At the theatre, Jiao directed plays like The Tiger Tally, Cai Wenji, Wu Zetian, Dragon Whisker's Ditch, Teahouse, Guan Hangqing, etc.. Jiao was vigorous and creative. He was an explorer without limits. His combination of Chinese traditional theater and western drama proved to be an indelible contribution to Chinese modern theatre.

Ouyang Shanzun(1914--)

Born in Liuyang, Hunan Province, Ouyang started theatrical work at school, and joined Left-wing theatre activity after the September 18 Incident of 1931. He became a member of No.1 Salvation theatre troupe of Shanghai, and went to Yan'an the year after. From the founding of the theatre to 1978, he had been deputy president and deputy general director. And he has directed 10 plays like The Sunrise, The Man With a Rifle, Even Wise Man Stumbles, Li Guorui. In 1980s and 1990s, he directed the plays such as The Parisians and The Late Romance on the Train. Besides, he directed films and TV shows such as The Burning Heart and Fresh Paint. His artistic experiences of over half a century has contributed to the development of Chinese modern theatre.

Zhao Qiyang (1918--1996)

Zhao was born in Kaifeng, Henan province. He devoted himself to Anti-Japanese invation Salvation at 18. From 1942 to 1945, he worked in Shanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region and performed successfully in the plays like The Front, Grains. In 1952, he took part in the founding of the Theatre. From then on till 1977, he had been secretary of the Party's Committee and the deputy president of the theatre. Whatever the stress he always managed to be well-composed, bold and resolute in his work. He was good at mobilizing other artists to tap their talents. His outstanding organizing ability benefit the theatre's forming its artistic style. He was a major role in the structuring and development of the theatre, and enjoyed great fame.