This is the first time Pu is directing a play. The veteran actor used to serve as the director of the Beijing People's Art Theatre. He began to teach the class in the second semester since the students were enrolled in STA in 2017.

"I've never seen anyone smile the way they do," said Pu, recalling how his initial encounter with the Tibetan students was akin to "love at first sight".

"They were completely frank, and when they learned about the basic principles of acting, they created such natural and direct performing episodes, like everything came right from the root of their life," he added.