Glamorous Encounter (Yan Yu), the avant-garde stage director Meng Jing-hui's latest production, premieres in Beijing on Thursday. [Photo: ent.sina.com.cn]

This year marks the 100th anniversary of modern Chinese drama.

The play The Family Picture has been performed to open the commemoration of the anniversary in Beijing.

In six scenes, the drama tells a story of a Beijing family over 50 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

The family's history reflects changes in Chinese people's lives in the past half century, especially in the period of the reform and opening-up.

Actor Feng Yuanzheng takes part in the play.

"The significance lies in that it's the first show to mark the 100th anniversary of Chinese drama. Today is a day to remember for us."

A series of quality Chinese dramas will be presented to mark the anniversary until the end of this month.

Theater-goers can also enjoy dramas brought by theater troupes from Taiwan and South Korea at some theaters in Beijing.

The first modern Chinese drama was produced by some Chinese students in Japan in 1907, an adaptation of the American slave story Uncle Tom's Cabin.

(CRIENGLISH.com April 8, 2007)