Sha Yexin

Sha Yexin, born 1939 in Nanjing, is a Chinese writer and political activist.

Political activism

Yexin became head of the Shanghai People's Art Theatre in 1985. He met with German chancellor Angela Merkel in 2007, regarding freedom of the press issues in China.

Literary career

He finished his first one-act play, ''Yi fen qian'' , in 1965. Later plays include ''Haohao xuexi'' , ''Yesu?DKongzi?DPitoushi Lienong'' and ''Makesi mishi'' .

Yexin's play ''The Impostor '' -- written collectively with fellow playwrights Li Shoucheng and Yao Mingde -- was reviewed by the ''New York Times'' in 1986. In that review, Mel Gussow referred to how "controversial" the play was when performed in China.