Shakespeare partnership brings fresh insight to Chinese audiences

The University of Birmingham joined its partners Phoenix Publishing & Media Group and Nanjing University to launch new Chinese translations of Hamlet and Henry V. Working in partnership with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), the partners' Shakespeare Centre China launched the first translations of 24 major Shakespeare plays. They also announced the official start of editing and publishing work for 'Modern Critics of Shakespeare' - a collection of research into the Bard - as well as preparation and organisation work for YLYK Cup Students' Shakespeare (China) Festival. At a special ceremony in Nanjing, Liang Yong, chairman of Phoenix Publishing & Media Group, and Professor Sir David Eastwood, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, jointly unveiled the preview editions for Hamlet and Henry V. The event also marked the launch of a joint research centre in the Social History of Medicine - part of a renewed Memorandum of understanding between the three partners. "This collection of research represents a landmark for the millions of Shakespeare aficionados in China and I am delighted that such a milestone Chinese-language publication is the product of our partnership in Nanjing," said Professor Sir David Eastwood. "The University of Birmingham is renowned for its expertise in English literature, particularly around the life and works of William Shakespeare, and globally acclaimed for its Shakespeare Institute, in Stratford-upon-Avon.