A scene from How I Learned to Drive.[Photo by Li Yan/China Daily]

Of the many such theaters in vibrant Beijing, Li Yangduo's is not the best located. But she has carved a niche with a repertory that can be called adventurous in this city where new productions are in the hundreds every year. Raymond Zhou reports.

At the second anniversary of the opening of DrumTower West Theater, Zhuo Bieling, a female writer and critic, recounted an anecdote about the time when her friend Li Yangduo gave her a screenplay. Li was considering bankrolling the project and wanted Zhuo's expert opinion. But Zhuo threw it into a drawer and forgot about it.

The project turned out to be Black Coal, Thin Ice, which won the Golden Bear at the 2014 Berlin International Film Festival.

Li did not invest in it.

"The film industry's loss was the drama circle's gain," says Zhuo to groans from the audience.

Li is the money and mastermind behind DrumTower West Theater, a 240-to-290-seat venue that used to be a derelict rehearsal hall for a State-owned performing arts organization.

Of the many such "small theaters" in the theatrically vibrant city of Beijing, hers is not the best located. But she has carved a niche with a repertory that can be called adventurous even in this city where new productions are in the hundreds every year.