The stage play The North Courtyard on Barkhor Street returned to the stage on November 3 at the Xizang Theatre Arts Center with a refreshed production, meeting audiences once again.

First staged in 2018, this contemporary drama is set in the North Courtyard on Barkhor Street in Lhasa. The site was formerly the office of the Qing imperial commissioners stationed in Xizang, with a history of more than 300 years. An ancient well stands in the courtyard, where the story of people who “drink from the same well and are as close as one family” has been passed down through generations.

The play tells the story of the emotional ties and changing fortunes of residents from different ethnic groups, including Han, Tibetan and Hui communities, who live in the North Courtyard on Barkhor Street. Through the daily lives of ordinary people, the play reflects the changes of a much broader era. The residents’ daily routines, family concerns and occasional squabbles bring to life the simple, warm and precious bonds of affection among people of different ethnic groups. Meanwhile, the dramatic transformation of the North Courtyard mirrors the tremendous changes and development Xizang has undergone since its peaceful liberation.

Editor: Lucy Jiang