Katie Leung to Lead WILD SWANS at Young Vic

The first ever stage version of Jung Chang's astoni stage version of Jung Chang's astonishing true stor shing true story is brought to life is is brought to life in in a major in in a major international collaboration between the Young Vic, American Reper Repertory Theatre and Actors Touring Company. tory Theatre and Actors Touring Company.

Set to star in the production are: Katie Leung, Oliver Biles, Eric Chan, Annie Chang, Ka-Ling Cheung, Victor Chi, Celeste Den, Joanne Fong, Jon Kit Lee, Orion Lee, Jennifer Lim, Les Mau, Ron Nakahara, Zenghui Qiu and Julyana Soelistyo.

This extraordinary project unites three of the most exciting female theatre-makers at work today; director Sacha Wares, playwright Alexandra Wood and designer Miriam Buether. The production will include specially commissioned video designs by groundbreaking Beijing artist Wang GongXin whose work has been seen at MOMA in San Francisco, the V&A and many other major galleries throughout the world.

China at the heart of the 20th century. A nation transformed beyond recognition. Through the eyes of one fiercely courageous family, Wild Swans takes us on a journey from the early days of Communist hope and struggle, through the chaos and confusion of Mao's Cultural Revolution, to the birth of a superpower. Wild Swans has sold over 10 million copies in 30 languages, making it the best-selling non-fiction book in British publishing history.

Celebrated writer Jung Chang Jung Chang was born in Sichuan Province, China in 1952. She bec ame a Red Guard at the age of fourteen and then worked as a peasant, a barefoot doctor, a steelworker and an electrician before becoming an English language student. In 1978 she moved to Britain and in 1982 became the first person from the People's Republic of China to earn a PhD from a British university. Her most recent book is the bestseller Mao: The Unknown Story which she co-wrote with her husband Jon Halliday.

Sacha Wares directed generations at the Young Vic to great acclaim. Her productions at the Royal Court include the award-winning Sucker Punch, My Child, random and Credible Witness. Amongst her other credits are trade (RSC), Guantanamo (Tricycle, West End, NY), A Number (Theatre Project Tokyo) and Bintou (Arcola). She is an associate director of the Young Vic and Royal Court.

Miriam Buether won the 2010 Evening Standard Award for Sucker Punch (Royal Court) and Earthquakes in London (NT). At the Young Vic she has designed Government Inspector, The Good Soul of Szechuan, In the Red and Brown Water and generations. For the Royal Court she has also designed Get Santa!, Cock, Relocated, My Child and Way to Heaven. Her opera credits include ... Anna Nicole (ROH) and Turandot (ENO). In 1999 she won the Linbury Prize.

Alexandra Wood was awarded the George Devine Award for her breakthrough play The Eleventh Hour which was directed by Natalie Abrahami as part of the Royal Court Young Writers Festival. Her other plays include The Andes, The Lion's Mouth and Unbroken. Wang GongXin GongXin is one of China's most respected and influential co ntemporary artists. His work Here? Or There?
(created with Lin Tianmiao)is considered to be among the most important works in recent years. His piece The Sky of Brooklyn: Digging a Hole in Beijing was one of the first site-specific installations in China. His work in video includes The Old Bench, Baby Talk, Public Hallway and Shepard. His work has been exhibited widely all over the world. In the UK he has been presented at the V&A, the ICA and Tate Liverpool. The world premiere of Wild Swans will be at American Repertory Theater, Boston on February 11, 2012.

Coinciding with this new stage adaptation, Harper Press is publishing a twenty-first anniversary edition of Wild Swans in March 2012. This will include a new introduction from Jung Chang is directed by Sacha Wares, designed by Miriam Buether, with costumes by Moritz Junge, ther, with costumes by Moritz Junge, video by Wang GongXin by by by Wang GongXin, sound by Gare , sound by Gareth Fry, light by DM Wo th Fry, light by DM Wood and od and choreography by Leon Baugh.

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