A New Production of 'Amadeus' to Debut in Shanghai

After nearly half a century of waiting, the Tony Award-winning drama "Amadeus" will be unveiled in Shanghai in a brand-new production, brought to life by an international team led by South African director Yael Farber, together with actors from the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center.

First staged in London in 1979 by British playwright Peter Shaffer, "Amadeus" soon moved to Broadway, starring the veteran actor Ian McKellen (famous for playing Gandalf in "The Lord of the Ring"), and went on to win the Tony Award for Best Play.

In 1984, director Miloš Forman adapted it into a film, which swept eight Academy Awards at the 57th Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor.

The success of "Amadeus" lies in its departure from traditional biographical storytelling. Instead, it adopts a chilling narrative perspective: the court composer Antonio Salieri – Mozart's rival – confesses his sins on his deathbed. It is this "murderer's perspective" that turns the entire work into a "theater of soul-judgment".

The version coming to Shanghai is helmed by an international team making its first visit to China. Director Yael Farber, a nominee for the Olivier Award, is known for her bold and intense style as well as her theatrical language. Her representative works include "The Crucible."

She is joined by international artists, including British lighting designer Tim Lutkin and British set designer Leslie Travers.

The magnificent stage design ultimately serves one core element: the fateful clash between Salieri and Mozart. One is a prodigy who composed at age four, wrote a symphony at seven, and lived with uninhibited brilliance; the other spent half a lifetime climbing to the pinnacle of power, only to be shattered by Mozart's genius.

Nearly half a century later, the pain of a fallen genius will still move audience members who step into the theater.

Performance info

Dates: June 5 to 21, 2pm/7:30pm

Tickets: 180-680 yuan

Venue: Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center 上海话剧艺术中心

Address: 288 Anfu Rd 安福路288号