China’s top award for drama to showcase 16 plays in Guangzhou

Stage photo of Cantonese Opera “Madame White Snake: The Affection” [Photo/Nanfang Daily]

China’s top award for drama, the 28th Chinese Drama Plum Blossom Award, will be inaugurated tonight at the Southern Theater Command Auditorium in Guangzhou. This is the second time Guangzhou hosts this award. From today (May 8) to May 23, the competition showcase will present 16 excellent plays from 14 provinces, cities and autonomous regions around China (see the schedule below).

In this showcase, you will be able to enjoy the quintessence of Chinese culture such as Beijing Opera and Kunqu Opera, Hebei Bangzi Opera from the plain, Shaoxing Opera and Huangmei Opera from the regions south of the Yangtze River, Qinqiang from western China, as well as Cantonese Opera.

The performing venues include Guangdong Performing Arts Theater, Friendship Theater, Guangdong Cantonese Opera Art Center, Beilei Theater and Southern Theater Command Auditorium. These theaters are newly built or re-built in the past ten years, well-equipped and state-of-the-art, with adequate acting area for the competition showcase.

It’s worth mentioning that Guangzhou is the host city of the 9th China Art Festival, 2012 Xinghai Prize International Choir Championships, 2016 World Theatre Day, 27th Chinese Drama Plum Blossom Award, Chinese Golden Bell Award for Music, China International Performing Arts Fair, Guangzhou International Documentary Film Festival, Guangzhou International Art Fair, China International Comics Festival, Guangzhou Art Festival and many more large-scale cultural activities. The city has cultivated talents and gathered experience in organizing and planning domestic and international cultural activities and competitions.

Ticket info of the 28th Chinese Drama Plum Blossom Award Competition Showcase:

Admission: RMB 50 per ticket

Online-booking: http://www.t3.com.cn/city/guangzhou.html (in Chinese)

Booking: Room 1602, Building A, Oriental Wende Plaza, No. 68, Wende North Road, YuexiuDistrict, Guangzhou (广州市越秀区文德北路68号东方文德广场A栋1602室)

Contact: Zhang Feifei (张飞飞)

Tel.: 13798100534

About the Chinese Drama Plum Blossom Award

The Chinese Drama Plum Blossom Award is the top award for drama performing arts granted by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China. It is held every other year, aiming at commending young and middle-aged drama actors and actresses who gain prominent achievement in performing arts. The award was set up in 1983 and has been held for 27 sessions.

Schedule of the 28th Chinese Drama Plum Blossom Award Competition Showcase

How to get to the theaters:

Southern Theater Command Auditorium (南部战区礼堂)

Add.: No. 18 Dadao Road, Meihua Village Residential District, Guangzhou (广州市梅花村街道达道路18号)

Bus: Take Bus No. 40, 44, 183, 222, 225, 811 or 813 and get off at Dadao Road station (达道路)

Friendship Theater (友谊剧院)

Add.: No. 696 Renmin North Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou (广州市越秀区人民北路696号)

Metro: Exit D4, Guangzhou Railway Station, Line 2 or 5

Bus: Take Bus No. 5, 7, 8, 31, 38, 42, 180, 181, 211, 251, 543 or 823 and get off at Renmin North Road (Zhannan Road Entrance) station (人民北路(站南路口))

Guangdong Performing Arts Theater (广东省演艺中心大剧院)

Add.: No. 1229 Guangzhou Avenue Middle, Tianhe District, Guangzhou (广州市天河区广州大道中1229号)

Metro: Exit A, Shaheding, Line 6

Bus: Take Bus No. 6, 30, 51a, 51, 5, 13, 140, 252, 303a, 303, 502, 504, 508, 540, 804, 83, 841, b12, b16 or b6 and get off at Guangzhou Sport University station (广州体院)

Beilei Theater (蓓蕾剧院)

Add.: No. 875 Renmin North Road, No. 167 Dongfeng West Road, Guangzhou (广州东风西路167号人民北路875号)

Bus: Take Bus No. 284, 555, 56, 105, 114, 181, 204, 238, 251, 288A, 288 etc and get off at Liuhua Lake Park station (流花湖公园) or Guangzhou Medical University station (广州医科大学)

Guangdong Cantonese Opera Art Center (广东粤剧艺术中心)

Add.: No. 703 Dongfeng East Road, Guangzhou (广州市东风东路703号)

Metro: Exit B2, Ouzhuang Station, Line 5 or 6

Bus: Take Bus No. 16, 63, 112, 189, 192, 221, 223, 225, 285, 287, 535 or 550 and get off at Xiniu Road Entrance station (犀牛路口); or take Bus No. 62a, 62, 261, 284, 293 or 518 and get off at Zhixing Road station (执信路)