On May 16 and May 20, 2025, students from the Children’s Literature course at Beijing Normal - Hong Kong Baptist University (BNBU) staged five original theatrical performances based on classic children’s stories. This innovative project, titled “Creative Mediation of Children’s Literature”, was made possible with the support of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FHSS) Teaching and Learning Grant.

The project evolved from a successful teaching experiment by the course instructor, Dr. Ruixue Zhang, in the previous academic year. Building on that foundation, this semester’s course incorporated AI-generated imagery into students’ adaptation processes, encouraging them to critically examine the potential and limitations of artificial intelligence in creative work.

Throughout the semester, students participated in drama workshops led by five dedicated research assistants: Hui QIU, Delan LI, Xiruo MAO, Yuzhi RUAN, and Hanzhi XU, who guided them through the processes of adaptation, stage performance, and multimedia production.

The student performances offered bold and imaginative reinterpretations of well-known tales such as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Where the Wild Things Are, and Little Red Riding Hood. These adaptations explored complex themes including memory, identity, morality, and social justice, bridging literature, performance, and critical inquiry.

Group 1: Who Stole the Cake?

Adapted from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Group 2: Childish Seven Sins
Adapted from Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Group 3: Nevermore
Adapted from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven,” and Russell Hoban’s The Sea-Thing Child

Group 4: Cloak & Dagger: A Red’s Evilness
Adapted from “Little Red Riding Hood”

Group 5: Red Riding Hood’s Redemption
Adapted from “Little Red Riding Hood”

The project culminated in the publication of a digital brochure, which documents the students’ creative journeys, theatre reviews, reflection journals, and links to recorded performances. This initiative not only celebrates student creativity and collaboration but also exemplifies interdisciplinary learning in literature education.

Digital Brochure Cover

Click the link below to view the full digital version of the brochure:

https://www.canva.cn/design/DAGpSpr_Wd8/TZPAuVg56Tvs3mGWt8ER3Q/edit?utm_content=DAGpSpr_Wd8&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

Reporter: Ruan Yuzhi

Edited by: Dr Zhang Ruixue