Revolving around famed Peking Opera actor Wei Liansheng, the play portrays how Wei experiences the peak of fame and the depths of despair. Eventually, his tragic love affair with Yuchun, a concubine of a bureaucrat, costs them both their lives.

"Wu's script is well-known, and I've been intrigued by it since I was a young actor," recalls Feng, 62. "There have been many adaptations, from movies to TV dramas. We discussed the idea of restaging the play for more than a decade. This isn't just a revival, it is a reinvention."