The play was performed by 2,000 artists, and was accompanied by a 1,000-strong chorus and orchestra. It was staged repeatedly in Beijing at the Great Hall of the People in order to ensure that all residents would be able to see it – this was in time for the 15th National Day of the People's Republic of China, and was later adapted to film that was shown all over China – both by then under the title "The East Is Red".[8] It was in this play that the definite version of the song was heard for the first time, this would be the version used during events during the Cultural Revolution years until 1969.