Watching “The Shawshank Redemption” on stage in China
Why wasn’t this banned?
IS HOPE A dangerous thing in China? Theatregoers in Beijing have been mulling that question, with two new stage adaptations exploring themes of injustice, freedom and renewal. “The Shawshank Redemption” (pictured) is set in mid-20th-century America, while “Les Misérables” takes place in 19th-century France. Both feature characters who are unjustly imprisoned and suffer under cruel jailers and corrupt systems.
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This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “Salvation lies within”
From the February 3rd 2024 edition
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