Last night (September 3), the 2024 Performance Season of 'Grand Performances in Beijing' officially kicked off at the National Centre for the Performing Arts. Five artists, including Tian Qinxin, Feng Yuanzheng, Li Xincao, Chi Xiaoqiu, and Elada Dani, jointly inaugurated the event, with the classic play Beijing Fayuan Temple brilliantly performed as the opening act.
The Performance Season, organized by the Publicity Department of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, is a key part of the Beijing Culture Forum. As a major cultural brand aimed at advancing the City of Performing Arts initiative and enhancing the Grand Performances in Beijing cultural identity, it invites distinguished domestic and international art troupes and high-quality productions to perform in Beijing, creating a platform for artistic exchange and showcasing.
Five Thematic Sections to Offer an Artistic Feast
This year's season, themed New Artistic Expressions, Fine Productions for the People, embarks on a new journey with innovations and upgrades. Five key sections include performances in large theatres, performances in new creative spaces, high-quality shows in universities, screenings of theatrical films, and theatre salons. Over the course of two months, over 50 art troupes and performance institutions will present 114 productions in over 40 theatres and new performance spaces across Beijing, filling the capital's stages with diverse and exciting shows. Theatre enthusiasts will also have the opportunity to attend six salon events led by renowned industry experts, focusing on significant trends and iconic works in the performance industry.
Outstanding Domestic and International Productions to Take Center Stage
The season aims to bring together top domestic and international productions, fostering high-level artistic exchanges. This year's lineup includes performances marking the 60th anniversary of Sino-French relations and events for the China-Russia Year of Culture. Notable productions include Notre Dame de Paris, Война и мир, the ballet Roméo Juliette, and a high-definition screening of The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, among other works from France, Russia, the UK, and Poland. Additionally, 16 productions from central and provincial theatre companies, including the ballet The Red Detachment of Women, the play Dream of the Red Chamber, and the dance drama Wind Rises in Dachen, will be staged in Beijing, emphasizing the international and open nature of the season.
27 Premieres and Debuts
This year's season focuses on becoming a premier platform for debuting new theatrical works. Twenty-seven productions will have their premieres during the event, including the nationwide debut of nine plays such as Yuyan and Fan Shanhai and Beishang, and the Beijing debut of 18 works, including Zero Liturgy, littoral, Tian Gong Kai Wu, and A Love Balled of Kangding, along with a high-definition opera screening of Carmen. These premieres will significantly contribute to the development of Beijing as a City of Performing Arts.
New Performance Spaces Highlight Creative Dynamism
This year's season will feature 28 productions in 13 innovative performance spaces, such as the new space at Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center E+ space, Star Theathre, Drum Tower West Theatre, Nan Luo Theatre , Music Fans , the Mahua A66 theatre , Pigment Gueshouse,and the Zheng YiSi Chalou. Various performance styles, including monologues, magic shows, suspense plays, and candlelit concerts, will appeal to younger audiences and showcase the creative vitality of Beijing's performance industry.
Continuing its collaboration with Damai, the season will offer 1.3 million yuan worth of 100-yuan discount vouchers to audiences. Linked to the Beijing Benefiting Consumer Culture Season, the event will encourage theatres and performance groups to offer discounts, such as buy-one-get-one-free deals and complimentary tickets, to make the performances more accessible to the public. Sixteen high-quality productions will also be staged at universities, providing students with broader access to the arts.
Enhanced Audience Benefits
Additionally, the season will feature theatre flash mobs, outdoor performances, ticket exchanges, and other interactive activities to enliven the city's theatre atmosphere. To make performance information more accessible, the event will post regular updates on the Grand Performances in Beijing WeChat account and the Theatre Insider mini-program.
