"The Good Person of Szechwan", a classical drama by German playwright Bertolt Brecht, will be staged at the National Theatre of China in Beijing from Oct 29 to Nov 1, 2014.

The new version, under joint production of the National Theatre of China and the Malthouse Theatre of Australia, has been directed by China's stage director Meng Jinghui.

This edition is going to be darker and more violent than Brecht's, and it tests a person's goodness when faced with fate, Meng said at a press conference held on Sunday.

The drama, which made its debut in the Zurich playhouse in 1943, has continued to be performed worldwide.

It is a thought-provoking parable, reflecting the author's profound understanding of the social ethics and morality.

The drama centers on the life of a young prostitute, Shen Te. Following the morality taught by the gods, Shen struggles to be a good person. Taking her goodness for granted, Shen’s neighbors and friends turn out to be such huge bellies that she is forced to invent an alter ego to protect herself. Under the guise of a male cousin named Shui Ta, Shen becomes cold and merciless, doing whatever she can to safeguard her own material benefits.

Meng said the reason why chose such a play is because its exploration of good and evil, virtue and sin, exploitation and poverty still have remarkable significance even today.