Debra Li debra_lidan@163.com THE more than 150?seat black?box theater at the Zhuama Drama space in OCT was filled with anticipating fans last Thursday for the opening of the Chinese production of “Yujin and Yujin.” The piece, adapted from a South Korean musical, is based on the bestselling young?adult novel of the same name by Lee Geum?yi. On stage were two Chinese actresses, Du Xinyan and Tang Chenyi, accompanied by a cello and piano duo. With a simple stage set — desks and chairs, a blackboard, two large plush dolls and plastic blocks that double as stairs or walls — the actresses became “Big Yujin” and “Little Yujin,” guiding the audience into the inner worlds of two teenage girls. Big Yujin is outspoken, optimistic and sometimes volatile in the way teenagers can be, while Little Yujin consistently excels at exams yet remains engulfed in sadness, haunted by bullies and recurring nightmares. The show revolves around monologues and conversations between the two, and the actresses take on a range of roles beyond the protagonists, portraying their moms, classmates and a boyfriend with versatility and nuance. Through passionate dialogue and skillfully performed dramatic songs, the performers uncover a shared traumatic secret dating back to kindergarten, reveal how divergent upbringings shaped their adolescent lives, and show how friendship helped both girls begin the long work of healing, reconcile with their mothers, and look toward a hopeful future. Audience seating was arranged to double as the front row of a 7th?grade classroom, and a corner of the theater was transformed into a drugstore where Big Yujin buys sodas for the pair. These staging choices drew the audience deeper into the world onstage, turning viewers into impromptu classmates and shopkeepers and heightening the production’s immersive effect. Wang Zhe, director of the production, said he chose to stage this show because its story is deeply moving and bravely addresses real?world issues such as sexual exploitation, parent?child relationships and the psychological impact of past trauma on young women. The cast — eight young actresses who alternate in the roles of Big Yujin and Little Yujin — was selected from applicants across China, Wang added. The original Korean musical, produced in 2021 by Nangman Barricade, was nominated for Korea Musical Awards in the categories of Best Book and Best Original Score. In 2023 the musical was chosen as one of 14 original K?musicals to tour overseas, backed by South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. A Taiwanese production premiered in the provincial capital, Taipei, in March and drew rave reviews from both audiences and critics. Tickets: 228-398 yuan Dates: Every Friday to Sunday, through Sept. 27 Venue: Zhuama Drama, OCT, Nanshan District (深圳爪馬世界劇場(華●生活館)) Metro: Line 1 to OCT Station (華僑城站), Exit B | 