As artefacts from an unknown chapter in Chinese history are uncovered, construction of a Japanese factory that was being built on the site has to be halted.

Chinese and Japanese officials, archaeologists, businessmen, students and looters start arriving on the scene, with a local tea house becoming the centre of unexpected encounters and conflicts. 'It was an entirely original piece,' Li said.

'Mr Hirata wrote the first draft. Then I had my input. It went back and forth between us until the script was complete. It was a collaborative effort, with each of us working in our own language.

'I don't speak Japanese, Mr Hirata doesn't speak Chinese, and neither one of us speaks English. Translators helped us understand what the other one was doing.

'What is most intriguing about the play is that there will be two sets of actors, one from China and the other from Japan. All of the actors will speak in their native tongue,' Li continued.

'We did that for two reasons. First, it seemed logical for the actors to speak in their own language. Second, there were some symbolic issues, such as the linguistic and cultural barriers that separate us, that could lead to misunderstandings. Having the actors speak in different languages helps accentuate that point.'

While tense relations between China and Japan are a subplot, they are not what the play - which explores more universal themes - is really about. Japan was chosen, rather than India or the United States, because there are more cultural similarities between the Chinese and the Japanese than between the Chinese and other nationalities.

This is not the first time that Hirata has collaborated on a project like this with a director from another country.

'I have worked with Korean and French playwrights and directors, so I do not have any particular worries,' he said. 'What makes a collaboration [like this] interesting is that different cultures encounter each other. Chinese artists, not only playwrights but also actors and staff members, seem to like metaphysical arguments.

'We Japanese tend to start from something minute and specific. It's sometimes confusing for both parties, which is intriguing.'

The project was not without cultural challenges. 'When we artists meet in person and discuss the matters, we can solve most issues,' Hirata said.

'However, the difference between the Chinese and Japanese ways of proceeding with a project tends to lead to misunderstanding. Building a trusting relationship by settling each problem patiently, I believe, is the way to go.'

He said he would have to wait until the final curtain had fallen on the production to comment.

'I'm not sure yet, but I am satisfied with the quality of the actors. I believe in the project's success and I am certain that it will be a memorable piece in the history of theatrical exchange between China and Japan.'