1957年，沙葉新喺南京市第五中學畢業，考入華東師範大學中文系。1961年大學畢業，保送進入上海戲劇學院戲劇創作研究班學習。1963年喺上海人民藝術劇院擔任編劇。1985年做上海人民藝術劇院院長，1993年辭職。2000年代開始，沙葉新宣稱，「不為權力寫作。」佢比較關注中國大陸嘅民主，亦對中共諸多批評。佢試過俾中國領導高層點名批評。
In 1957, Sha Yexin graduated from Nanjing No. 5 Middle School and was admitted to the Chinese Department of East China Normal University. After graduating from university in 1961, he was sent to study in the drama creation research class of Shanghai Theater Academy. In 1963, he worked as a playwright at the Shanghai People's Art Theater. In 1985, he became the director of the Shanghai People's Art Theater and resigned in 1993. Beginning in the 2000s, Sha Yexin declared, "Don't write for power. He is more concerned about democracy in Chinese mainland and has many criticisms of the CCP. He has been singled out and criticized by top Chinese leaders.