"Before that, I had no idea about drama. But that day, I felt overwhelmingly touched by the magic of theater," recalls Tong, who was born and grew up in Dalian, Liaoning province.

He postponed graduation one more year, immersed himself in the library reading nearly all the books about theater and joined in the campus theater club. Against his parents' wishes, he insisted that theater would be his life.

Tong says the most important thing that he learned from Graves is to communicate with audiences. As Graves told him, all the details of a play should be tailored to the audience and serve the story.

Tong also employs his mathematical logic approach in directing, such as the progression of each character and transition of storytelling.

With his studio, Tong hopes to adapt two to three Western plays into the Chinese language every year.

"My mother is an accountant and she asked why I cannot take a regular job. I could detect her concern," Tong says. "But I assured her by inviting her to watch this play, and she enjoyed it."

IF YOU GO

7:30 pm, from Wednesday to Sunday, June 17 to July 5. West Theater, No 85, Huguosi Jie (Street), Shichahai, Xicheng district, Beijing. 400-610-3721.