In 2006, Zhang translated Henrik Ibsen's The Master Builder, which was later directed by China's premier director, Lin Zhaohua. The drama was a critical success, enabling Zhang's other translations, including Eugene O'Neill's Mourning Becomes Electra, to be staged.

In 2011, Zhang began directing her own translations of contemporary Western plays, including Galileo by Bertolt Brecht and Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl.

Early last month, she directed Impression of Love, which was adapted from the novel Retreat Notes by the late writer Shi Tiesheng (1951-2010). It was Zhang's first directing effort based on a Chinese author's work.

She says she was impressed by the version of director Li Jianming, who directed the play in 2011. Li wrote the script and he wanted another director to interpret the story from a new angle.

"The long monologues in the play are challenging for Chinese audiences, who are used to watching dramatic stories. But I want to offer a variety of styles in theater," says Zhang.

Impression of Love will kick off a national tour later this year. Before that, Zhang will make time to work on the next play because she needs to maintain some distance from her past works.

"It is a way for me to renew them from an objective view," she says.

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