SPANIARD David Garcia-Lou came to Shanghai three years ago as a doctor, but decided to give it up in order to become a songwriter and singer of Chinese pop songs, giving shows around China with his band.

Now he will perform in his first Chinese drama at Shanghai Drama Arts Center with a group of professional Chinese actors, and then take part in the show’s two-month tour in Guangzhou, Chongqing and other cities.

Garcia-Lou, 28, will play the role of a French perfumer in the local original drama “Perfume.” The role, one of the four main roles (the other three are played by Chinese actors), is a Buddhist scholar who creates a love potion called “The Only.” Formal rehearsals started about a week ago.

The arts center opened casting about two weeks ago for a good-looking white male actor with some experience and basic Chinese language skills. It is the first time it had sought a Caucasian performer.

“Garcia-Lou stands out from many candidates,” says “Perfume” director Zhou Xiaoqian, recalling his audition. “Besides his good-looking appearance, good language skill and performing skills, I was touched by his sincerity and passion on stage.”

Garcia-Lou speaks Spanish, English, French and Chinese.

Q: What made you decide to develop your performing career here?

A: I came to Shanghai three and a half years ago after I graduated from Pamplona University in Spain. I studied medicine for six years, and I came to Shanghai to be a doctor.

Like many Western young people, I came here to live abroad and experience something new. I worked at Huashan Hospital in 2010 and 2011 as an internal medicine doctor in the international department. At the same time, I started to learn Chinese. The language is so difficult and I made the decision to give up the job (in order to learn it) and start performing.

Q: You’ve been performing music in many places, and you’ve also shown on some TV shows. What’s that like?

A: I always start my music tours from Yunnan, a place with various music styles and multiple cultural elements. I perform my own songs, all original creations in Chinese, working with different band members.

I have been acting in a local show on Jiangsu TV, and I went to Shanghai Dragon TV for a news feature on my native Spain. My purpose is not to become famous through such programs as “China’s Got Talent.” I was experiencing something new and interesting.

Q: How are the rehearsals for “Perfume” going?

A: It’s a really big challenge. I got the news of their casting a Western actor through a local actor friend and decided to give it a try.

It’s the first time I’ve done theater in Chinese, which I found to be so difficult — acting in Chinese and speaking Chinese in daily life are very different. Sometimes, I act in Spanish the first time, to feel the passion, and then use Chinese. I’m doing my best to recite and act, learning from experienced actors. I am so excited about this.

Q: You came to China as a doctor, and you gave up the profession, which you studied in school for years. Do you feel regretful about that?

A: No. The experience of studying medicine for six years didn’t just make me a doctor, but taught me how to learn. I can say that I’ve relied on this learning ability to conquer Chinese in a short time.