Latest News | A Full-Stage Night Performance of “The Peony Pavilion” Celebrates Splendor, With Enchanting Dreams and Deep Affection—A Springtime Rendezvous in the City of Pengcheng

Love arises without knowing its origin, yet it grows deep and unwavering.
The living may die, and the dead may live.
Born, one cannot be with death,
Those who have died and cannot be brought back to life,
None of them is the height of emotion.

Hello, Shenzhen.
In April, Shenzhen is already quietly basking in the summer heat. Yet even more scorching than the blazing sun is the masterpiece that the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe has poured its entire ensemble into—its full‑length production of “The Peony Pavilion.”
From April 3 to 5, the full-length production of “The Peony Pavilion”—hailed by experts as a major cultural event in Chinese opera for 2022—made a dazzling debut at the Shenzhen Poly Theatre, unveiling an exquisite artistic tableau on the Kunqu stage: “lovely lovers like blossoms, fleeting years like flowing water.”




During this full‑length production of “The Peony Pavilion” on its Shenzhen tour, a series of vibrant and diverse events were held in parallel.
On the morning of April 1, a themed Party Day activity titled “Recalling Glorious Years, Strengthening Our Sense of Mission and Responsibility” kicked off.
Members of the temporary Party branch and enthusiastic Party members from the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe’s touring company visited the Shenzhen Museum, where they gained an in-depth understanding of the city’s rich history and developmental journey, and studied the remarkable achievements of the reform and opening-up era. Through this experience, they sought to honor the past, strengthen their convictions, and inject fresh momentum into their commitment to future responsibilities.



  

  

That same afternoon, the full‑length “Peony Pavilion” meet-and-greet was held as scheduled at the Shenzhen Poly Theatre.
Assistant director Ni Guangjin, along with lead actors Luo Chenxue, Hu Weilu, Sun Jinghua, and Tan Xiao, attended the event to share with the audience the creative process and behind-the-scenes stories of the series. In a warm…
In that atmosphere, Luo Chenxue, Hu Weilu, and Sun Jinghua each presented captivating excerpts from the complete “Peony Pavilion,” leaving the audience…
Audiences were able to gain a deeper appreciation of the artistic allure of this classic work and savor the boundless charm of Kunqu opera.



  

  

  






On April 2, Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe actors Luo Chenxue, Zhou Yimin, and Tan Xuya visited Shenzhen Technology University and held a performance.
An accessible lecture that profoundly showcases the artistic charm and profound cultural heritage of Kunqu Opera, aiming to instill this unique cultural treasure in the hearts of young people.
In the hearts of young students, Chinese Kunqu opera is poised to blossom with renewed vitality on the fertile ground of Shenzhen Technology University.



 
 





To ensure the smooth execution of the production, the entire cast and crew meticulously prepared and consistently held themselves to the highest standards.
We strive to excel in every responsibility and every movement, endeavoring to present this production on stage in its finest possible form.
During the intermission, Gu Haohao, head of the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe, and Feng Yuanjun, deputy head, on behalf of the Party General Branch of the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe, paid a visit to offer their regards and condolences to the performers and staff.
Members, we express our recognition and encouragement for their hard work and professional performance.







 





A series of full‑scale aesthetic paintings from “The Peony Pavilion,” woven together by the threads of a love that transcends life and death and the social life of the Ming dynasty.
The performance, harnessing the power of traditional Chinese opera, paints a fantastical and enchanting world, drawing the audience into its depths—where everyone can…
In this bustling, weary world, we are granted a truly precious moment of respite. As the performance drew to a close, sustained applause echoed endlessly.
In the theater, the audience expressed their deep affection for this splendid performance and its lingering aftertaste in the most straightforward manner. Moreover, some enthusiastic spectators…
The audience presented flowers to the production team, expressing their gratitude and appreciation for this performance by the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe. Notably, even after the curtain fell, the night remained…
Old-fashioned brilliance. Outside the cast and crew’s entrance, theater fans lingered, eagerly chatting around the two lead actors, Luo Chenxue and Hu Wei.
Lu Ye patiently signed autographs for her fans, making the wait all the more heartwarming and unforgettable.









Enthusiastic fans

In the future, the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe will bring the complete version of “The Peony Pavilion” to even more cities, and we look forward to this timeless masterpiece being…
Unfolding its charm across a broader stage, it will bring audiences everywhere profound cultural experiences and artistic enrichment. See you in the future!



Splendid Theater
















































Cinematography: Mao Zi, Lin Minghui, et al.
 

Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe

The Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe is a professional performing arts ensemble under key national protection and support. Founded in 1978, it was first led by the renowned Peking–Kunqu master Yu Zhenfei, and its current director is the distinguished Kunqu performer Gu Haohao.

The Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe takes the protection and transmission of Kunqu opera as its mission. Since its founding, it has rescued, collated, and staged nearly 300 exquisite traditional excerpts, as well as close to 70 full-length operas.
While committed to the preservation and transmission of traditional arts, the theater company has also actively fostered the creation of new works, earning key funding under the Ministry of Culture’s National Stage Arts Excellence Program on four occasions.
A key production supported by the National Program for Fostering High-Quality Stage Arts, it has won the China Opera and Drama Association Award three times and has received numerous accolades from the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Culture, the China Dramatists Association, and other authorities.
It has been awarded national-level arts honors, including the “Five-One Project” Award, the Wenhua Grand Award, the Wenhua New Repertoire Award, the China Theatre Festival Repertoire Award, and the Outstanding Repertoire Award at the China Kunqu Opera Art Festival.

The troupe boasts a full range of theatrical specialties, a well‑rounded cast, and an ensemble of celebrated talents; to date, 13 individuals have been awarded the Chinese Drama Plum Blossom Award on 14 occasions, and two have received the Wenhua Performance Award—the Chinese government’s prize for culture and the arts—on two separate occasions.
Twenty-three individuals have collectively received the Shanghai Magnolia Award for Theatre Performance on 30 occasions. In 1986, the troupe was awarded the Ministry of Culture’s First Prize for the Revitalization of Kunqu Opera and has been hailed as “a first‑rate troupe, with first‑rate actors, first‑rate productions, and first‑rate performances.”

The Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe pursues artistic excellence through compelling productions and masterful performances, and has toured the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Greece, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, and…
Performances in Russia, Albania, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Chinese regions of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan have earned high praise and enthusiastic acclaim from audiences both at home and abroad, enjoying a distinguished reputation.