A scene in Skylight. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

National Theater Live, an initiative launched by the Royal National Theater in London in 2009 to broadcast live performances of its productions to cinemas, has come to China's Central Academy of Drama in Beijing, marking the project's first foray into China's universities.

On Dec 2, more than 700 students and teachers at the Beijing academy watched Skylight - the winner of the 2015 Tony Award for best revival of a play - featuring Bill Nighy and Carey Mulligan in the West End production by David Hare.

More productions of National Theater Live will be screened at the academy, including The Audience, a play by the British playwright and screenwriter Peter Morgan, starring Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren; and the Donmar Warehouse production of Coriolanus, with Tom Hiddleston in the title role.

National Theater Live came to China in 2015 and so far 16 plays have been screened in 28 cinemas across China, for more than 120,000 viewers.