Shih-I Hsiung

In 1933, Shih-I Hsiung, a Chinese student, was inspired by Shakespearean scholar Allardyce Nicoll to explore Chinese drama for his PhD. This led to the creation of "Lady Precious Stream," a play based on Beijing opera, which became an instant success, running for 900 performances in London and later on Broadway. Hsiung's achievement marked him as the first Chinese playwright in the West End, and he continued to impact theater with translations and original works, including "The Romance of the Western Chamber" and various essays and biographies.