The last theater season, filled with quality performances, was a feast for the eyes and ears of Shenzhen audiences. The upcoming season will give them an even wider spectrum of productions to choose from.

International dramas popular

The Shenzhen Performance Company will introduce more productions which have been tested in international markets. One is the traditional musical The Sound of Music, which always fills the theater with laughter, tears, and of course, some of the most memorable music ever written. The famous Broadway musical debuted more than 40 years ago and has won six Tony awards, including the Best Musical.

Another treat will be Riverdance, the world-class Irish step dance extravaganza. When it was staged in Beijing last year, the Irish troupe had to offer two extra shows to satisfy the enthusiastic audiences.

To entertain and amuse Shenzhen's children, Walt Disney's Carnival on Ice will arrive in time for summer vacation. It has entertained young and old alike in more than 250 cities worldwide.

Modern dramas being the focus

In the later half of last year, a series of modern dramas stirred up the city's night life. From the avant-garde play Rhinoceros in Love to the romantic Poison Water and the realistic The Heaven and the Earth, all enchanted theatergoers and sparked debate about the nature of love and marriage among them.

In May, the Shenzhen Performance Company will sponsor a season of historical, traditional and avant-garde dramas with an emphasis on contemporary works.

Shenzhen is considered by many theater directors to be the third most important market after Beijing and Shanghai. In fact, the director of Rhinceros in Love, Meng Jinghui, once said that Shenzhen would be an ideal center for the creation and staging of modern dramas in the Pearl River Delta.

Plays for children heating up

Children's theater has been in the minority in Shenzhen's entertainment market. That will change this year as more companies consider providing high-quality programs, either international or domestic, for Shenzhen's drama-loving children.

Last year, the puppet show Swan Lake was extremely popular. It attracted large audiences daily for the weeklong National Day holiday. What the producers saw behind its success was a huge potential market which was previously ignored.

In June, the Beijing Children Art Theater will present the musical Tears of a Monster for children. In addition to Disney's Carnival on Ice, there will also be another show -- as yet untitled -- that will feature a circus, puppet show and other entertainment.

(Shenzhen Daily February 17, 2004)