The classic Chinese opera, A Dream of Red Mansions, is to be staged Thursday in Beijing by a troupe of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The performers are currently undergoing last minute rehearsals.

A photo of the classic Chinese opera A Dream of Red Mansions to be staged in Beijing by a troupe of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on May 6, 2010.

The opera has been performed by DPRK troupe within their own country for fifty years. Thursday will be their debut in China.

The director of DPRK version of A Dream of Red Mansions said, "We've been working on the DPRK opera A Dream of Red Mansions since the last century. the opera has been readapted several times over the past 50 years. People tend to believe that opera actors should be experienced artists. But we chose young actors to perform the new version of the opera."

The opera is an adaptation of the classic Chinese novel written by Cao Xueqin in the Qing Dynasty. The stage designs and outfits simulate the Chinese TV series also inspired by the novel. For the young performers, the biggest challenges are the roles themselves.

A male lead said "I've studied the novel many times, as well as the TV series." A female lead said "I'm not nervous at all. The opera represents the friendship between the DPRK and China. We want to express our good wishes to the Chinese audience through the show."

The accompanying band is also from the DPRK. They play the country's own folk instruments, while their way of singing also adopt aspects of Korean folk songs.

The troupe of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea arrives in Dandong of northeast China on May 2, 2010.

(CCTV May 6, 2010)