Director Lin Yi: A Lifelong Passion and Tireless Effort in Staging Agatha’s Works

Chongqing - From Sep 14 to 15, And Then There Were None will be staged at Shi Guangnan Grand Theatre, Chongqing. The production stages of Agatha Christie's best-selling crime novel of the same name. It tells the story of 10 strangers receiving an unusual invitation to a solitary mansion and realizing a killer awaits them.

In a recent interview with iChongqing, director Lin Yi, a celebrated Chinese theatre director and the founder of Shanghai Mousetrap Drama Studio, shared her deep passion for bringing Agatha's work to Chongqing.

Lin’s journey into theatre began at the Shanghai Theatre Academy, where she graduated in 2004 with a degree in directing. Since then, she has dedicated her career to staging suspense and mystery dramas, with a particular focus on Agatha's classic works. Her studio, aptly named after Agatha's famous play The Mousetrap, has become a cornerstone of suspense theatre in China. During the interview, Lin reflected on what draws her to Agatha's work, emphasizing the enduring appeal of the themes in Agatha's stories.

"In her suspenseful world, human nature becomes an eternal theme. Her works force us to reflect on whether we should succumb to human weaknesses. She achieves this by using a gripping mystery as a foundation, allowing readers or audiences to observe and capture these themes themselves. That's what makes her work so captivating," Lin explained.

Lin Yi's directorial debut in 2007 with Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None marked the beginning of her mission to popularize the British author’s works in China. The play, which received widespread acclaim in Shanghai, Beijing, and Hangzhou, sparked a newfound interest in suspense theatre. Over the years, Lin has continued to revisit this production, making innovative changes that keep it fresh for audiences.

"Over the 17 years of rehearsing this play, we have introduced new creative elements almost every time. The stage design has been revised three times. This year, for example, audiences in Chongqing will see our latest stage design, which is drastically different from the previous versions," Lin shared.

Lin's commitment to Agatha’s works extends beyond And Then There Were None. She has also directed other notable works by Agatha, including Witness for the Prosecution, The Unexpected Guest, and The Spider's Web. Each production has allowed Lin to explore new creative avenues while maintaining the beauty of Agatha Christie's original stories. In the interview, she discussed the unique challenges of adapting these works for Chinese audiences, highlighting the importance of balancing theatrical innovation with respect for the source material.

Looking ahead, Lin is excited about her upcoming projects, including a highly anticipated adaptation of Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile, which will premiere in Shanghai this December before embarking on a national tour that will include a stop in Chongqing.