"The ways of expressing emotions are very different between Vietnamese and French people. For example, Vietnamese people often meet for dinner, to drink, to talk, and to sing karaoke. They laugh and weep. But it will never happen to French people," Nguyen adds.

Realizing that certain stories and characters were missing from theater stages, Nguyen co-founded the theater company Les Hommes Approximatifs in 2009 to bridge this gap. Her co-founders include scenographer Alice Duchange, costume designer Benjamin Moreau and playwright Mariette Navarro. This creative team has since been working with Nguyen for more than 10 years, accompanying her in her travels between France and Vietnam.

The production then grabbed the attention of Chinese drama producer Wang Keran's company, Magnificent Culture Co, and Beijing-based French artist Anais Martane, during the Avignon Festival. That was when she was approached to stage her show in China.

"What touches me is exploring humanity in depth. Though the cultures are different, we feel the mutual emotions and truly communicate with each other in this drama," says Wang.

chennan@chinadaily.com.cn