Salesman in China 
推销员在中国 

An NAC English Theatre Revival of the Stratford Festival Production

Developed with support from the National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund

January 16- 25, 2025

Babs Asper Theatre | 7:30 p.m.

Running time: 2 hours, 25 minutes (with intermission)

In 1983, legendary playwright Arthur Miller embarked on an audacious journey to China, joining forces with theatre luminary Ying Ruocheng and the Beijing People's Art Theatre. Their ambitious project? Staging a Mandarin-language production of Death of a Salesman, with Ying portraying the iconic Willy Loman and Miller – despite not speaking a word of Mandarin – directing. 

Facing the monumental challenge of presenting a play deeply rooted in the American Dream to a Communist Chinese audience, Ying and Miller grapple with logistical and personal obstacles, while operating under the scrutiny of a global audience. Skillfully navigating clashing worldviews and external pressures, their experience serves as a litmus test for the power of art to bring these two polarized worlds together.

Drawing inspiration from the memoirs of Miller and Ruocheng, playwrights Leanna Brodie and Jovanni Sy take audiences from the rehearsal hall to opening night and unveil the unlikely East-West collaboration that forged a daring international alliance on the stage.