Theater plays key role in dramatic tradition

"I couldn't leave the stage because all the tickets sold out. I didn't want to disappoint the audiences," Liang said, adding that Feng helped a lot and took care of the funeral. "When I finished on stage, I sat in the dressing room alone. At that moment, I totally understood the slogan 'A play is bigger than the sky'."

Last year, Feng was commissioned to conduct a class to train actors, A total of 15 were selected from more than 1,000 applicants, ages 24 to 42. Veteran performers such as Feng, Pu Cunxin and Song Dandan, teach at the class.

In March 2018, Feng, who is also a member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, proposed launching a fund for young Chinese playwrights during the annual session of the country's top advisory body in Beijing.

"There is an urgent need for young actors and playwrights. Many people don't have the patience to polish their acting and writing skills－they just want to make money from their careers," he said.

The Beijing People's Art Theatre held six classes to train actors from 1958 to 1985. In 1978 and 2004, the theater worked with the Central Academy of Drama on training young performers.

Feng said the latest training class began on Dec 26, with a series of sessions, including Kunqu Opera, xiangsheng (crosstalk) and reading scripts. Every morning, he led the students in training their voices.