The thematic exhibition of Symphony of Love and Dream: The Theatrical Worlds of Tang Xianzu and William Shakespeare at the London Book Fair. [Photo/Tide News]

The London Book Fair 2025 was held at the Olympia Exhibition Centre in London from March 11 to 13, drawing nearly a thousand exhibitors and over 30,000 publishing professionals worldwide.

Among the highlights was an exhibition called Symphony of Love and Dream: The Theatrical Worlds of Tang Xianzu and William Shakespeare, co-hosted by the Zhejiang Literature Museum, the Suichang Tang Xianzu Memorial Hall, and others.

Tang Xianzu (1550-1616) is a renowned playwright and literary figure of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), celebrated as the "Shakespeare of the Orient".

During his tenure as the magistrate of Suichang county in Lishui, East China's Zhejiang province, Tang penned the masterpiece The Peony Pavilion, one of his four famous plays. His works are not only cherished in China but have also reached audiences in the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, and Russia, and are recognized as treasures of world drama.

The exhibition delved into the lives, creative journeys, and artistic achievements of Tang and Shakespeare who are contemporaneous giants of drama, fostering cultural exchange between East and West. It also featured Tang's works and creative cultural products from Suichang.

Suichang is committed to promoting the Tang Xianzu culture overseas, enhancing cultural exchanges and cooperation with Shakespeare's hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon, England.

Editor: Xu Zhitian