Latest shows to be staged in Guangzhou's theaters

DU FU (Dance Drama)

Poster of Du Fu (Photo: Guangzhou Opera House)

Renowned for his work and his moral virtues as the Poet-Sage, Du Fu (712-770) is widely considered one of the greatest Chinese poets of the Tang Dynasty. The dance drama is the first one based on the great poet in China.

The drama artistically portrays the tumultuous life of the Poet Sage, from his career as an official to his experience as a refugee during the An Lushan Rebellion, a war lasting for 8 years. Finally, he quits his job to become a farmer due to the unacceptable corruption he faced in the government. His poems embody a deep sense of history and the poet's compassion for the ordinary people.

Stage photo of Du Fu (Photo: Guangzhou Opera House)

The dance drama is constructed with dances inspired by the poet's most famous poems, including Song of Fair Women, Song of the Wagons, Three Poems of Petty Official, Three Poems of Separation, and Welcome Rain on a Spring Night.

One of the highlights of the drama is that Du Fu will be performed by two different actors simultaneously, one portraying the younger Du Fu and the other portraying the elder one. Through carefully designed stage settings, the two selves in different periods of Du Fu's life communicate with each other, revealing the great poet's inner world.

The dance drama is co-directed by Han Zhen and Zhou Liya, and it is supported by the Chongqing Song and Dance Ensemble Co. Ltd. and other top teams in China. It has won the 10th Lotus Award, which is China's top award for dance.

Time: 7:30 pm (Wednesday-Thursday), August 14-15, 2024

Venue: Opera Hall, Guangzhou Opera House

Duration: 110 minutes (including a 15-minute intermission)

Price: from 199 to 799 RMB

Where to get the tickets: the official website of Guangzhou Opera House

*The show will be played in Chinese.

*Each ticket can only be used by one person.

*Children below 1.2 m will not be admitted.

Phantom of The Opera (English Musical)

Poster of Phantom of The Opera (Photo: Guangzhou Opera House)

The English musical Phantom of the Opera will be staged at the Guangzhou Opera House for three weeks. As the first-round tickets of the musical were quickly sold out, the second round will commence on August 10th, unlocking the remaining tickets for the first week and the premier seats for the second week.

Stage photo of Phantom of The Opera (Photo: Guangzhou Opera House)

The upcoming musical remains faithful to Cameron Mackintosh's version, produced by the Really Useful Group in 1986. Casting members include Jonathan Roxmouth, the youngest Phantom ever in the English version of Phantom of the Opera, Matt Leisy, who acted as Vicomte de Chagny during the 2019 and 2020 world tours, and Grace Roberts, the winner of the Emerging Talent Award at the 2018 Lotte Lenya Competition, who will play Christine.

Time: 7:30 pm (Tuesday-Friday); 2 pm and 7:30 pm (Saturday-Sunday), January 7-26, 2025

Venue: Opera Hall, Guangzhou Opera House

Duration: 155 minutes (including a 20-minute intermission)

Price: from 280 to 1380 RMB.

Where to get the tickets: the official website of Guangzhou Opera House.

*The show will be played in English with Chinese subtitles.

*Each ticket can only be used by one person.

*No children shorter than 1.2 m will be admitted.

Legend, 3 Bravers (Musical)

Poster of Legend, 3 Bravers (Photo: Guangdong Arts Theatre)

The musical created by Teatro de Lavradores, a drama troupe from Macao, incorporates fashion culture elements such as pop songs and street dance, so it is both family-friendly and educational in an entertaining manner. It narrates the tale of three bravers: Yixin, a stubborn and reckless hero; a forest wizard with superb hearing; and a silent ninja archer with exceptional sight.

Stage photo of Legend, 3 Bravers (Photo: Guangdong Arts Theatre)

The musical is a co-production by Macao young talented theatre, dance, and music artists, featuring famous actor and performance-educator Jacky Li as producer and director, Johnson Day as scriptwriter, and EK Wong for music composition.

Note that the performance on August 31 at 3 pm will feature sign language translators on stage. "I hope everyone can enjoy the show," said Jacky.

Time: 10:30 am and 3 pm (Saturday), August 31, 2024

Venue: Guangdong Arts Theatre

Duration: 75 minutes (no intermission)

Price: from 80 to 220 RMB

Where to get the tickets: the official WeChat account of Guangdong Arts Theatre (广东艺术剧院)

*The show will be played in Cantonese.

*Each ticket can only be used by one person.

*Infants will not be admitted.

British Ballet Gala by London City Ballet (Ballet)

Poster of British Ballet Gala (Photo: Guangdong Arts Theatre)

Founded by South African dancer Harold King in 1976, the London City Ballet is one of the world's leading dance collectives.

The British Ballet Gala consists of five modern ballets created by English choreographers. It starts with Ashley Page's Larina Waltz, continues with Kenneth MacMillan's Concerto (pas de deux) and Ballade, Liam Scarlett's Consolations and Liebestraum, and ends with Christopher Mani's Eve.