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| Macbeth (simplified Chinese) |
The UK government has
just announced a package of measures to boost business and cultural links with
China. These include paying for both a complete translation of all
Shakespeare’s works into Mandarin, and for the translation of a number of
classic Chinese dramatic works into English.
UK Culture Secretary
Sajid Javid said: “Creating stronger links with China is a top priority for the
Government, and sharing the very best of our respective cultures is a brilliant
way to make this happen. This funding means Western and Eastern cultures can
learn from and be enriched by one another and what better way than using the works
of Shakespeare.”
The translation of
Shakespeare’s works will be undertaken by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC),
which has also secured funding for
a tour of China in 2016 to help commemorate the 400th anniversary of
Shakespeare's death. Gregory
Doran, RSC Artistic Director, said: “I profoundly believe that we foster deeper
understanding between cultures by sharing and telling each other our stories.
Therefore, I am hugely excited by the ambitions of our Chinese cultural
partners and their interest in working with the Royal Shakespeare Company on
these new collaborations. China has a rich dramatic heritage that mirrors the
epic scale, complexity and universality of Shakespeare’s work and a national
curriculum which requires young people to study his plays. Our plans to
translate Shakespeare into Mandarin, to see translation and performance of more
Chinese classics in the UK and to tour RSC productions to China will celebrate
the arts and culture of both nations.”
I am trying to track down comment from the Chinese government.
I am trying to track down comment from the Chinese government.
