Co-produced by Yanghua Theatre and the National Theatre of France, Le Petit Prince marks another landmark collaboration following the resounding success of the Chinese version of Les Misérables.

 

Directed by Jean Bellorini, an immensely influential French theatre artist who has long dedicated himself to the contemporary theatrical adaptation of literary classics, the choice of Le Petit Prince stems not only from its status as a world-renowned French literary treasure, but also from the profound connection between its author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and Lyon—where the National Theatre of France is located - as well as the work's unique place in the hearts of Chinese readers.

 

 

Innovative Interpretation: A Fusion of Musical Theatre and Poetry
One of the greatest highlights of Yanghua's Le Petit Prince is its definition as a "musical theatre". The creative team has invited three outstanding musicians with distinct styles to join the production: folk poet Zhong Lifeng, indie musician Xiao Liu, and singer-songwriter Fan Qing. During rehearsals, music is not pre-composed but a collective improvisation that evolves in tandem with the text. The creative sparks from the actors are directly integrated into the play, making music an indispensable part of the narrative itself. The musicians will also take on a variety of roles in the production.

Another innovation is the incorporation of a poetic dimension. The play features a carefully curated selection of Chinese and French poems that echo the spiritual essence of Le Petit Prince. This gives birth to a brand-new stage character—the "Poet" (portrayed by Xue Fei), a well-travelled figure with a keen insight into the world, who also stands for people from another era.

In the moment when the Chinese child and the French pilot lock eyes, the barriers of language melt away.

 

The cast forms another distinctive feature of the play. Le Petit Prince is played by 13-year-old Li Yichen, whose pure and clear temperament perfectly aligns with the character. Marc Plassas, a renowned French actor and long-term collaborator of the French director, takes on the role of the Pilot. A 5-year-old "Little Little Prince" will also appear on stage. Additionally, the cast boasts diverse backgrounds, including musicians, broadcasters and instrumentalists, and is not composed solely of professional stage actors. As Xue Fei put it, the core of this play lies in the word "authenticity": all participants reveal the truest parts of their souls on stage, jointly guarding the precious innocence of childhood.

Director Jean Bellorini stated that he hopes to deepen the original work's ideas of inheritance and connection through the exchange and mutual learning among actors of different ages and cultural backgrounds, and explore the proposition of "Aren't we all someone else's Little Prince?". He said, "In the work I envision, the beauty of communication between people of different ages and life experiences is enriched by cultural differences, and thrives in mutual learning and common growth."

 

 

 

A Stellar Rendezvous for All
The official poster, created by Liu Nina—the daughter of Anaïs Martane and Liu Ye—is brimming with childlike wonder and imagination, extending the legacy of the classic while infusing it with fresh vitality.
This artistic feast, crafted by top-tier Sino-French teams and blending theatre, music and poetry, is bound to take all audiences, both young and old, on a soul-stirring "journey among the stars" to revisit their original aspirations.

As director Jean Bellorini remarked: "My Little Prince is by no means naive. His perceptiveness, sincerity and candour strike a chord in me. Every time I hear him ask a question, he mends me and tears me apart all at once. He is the bright glow of the stars, and also the abyss of the night. Just like every single one of us."