China’s live performance industry got off to a strong start in the first quarter of 2024, with surging increases in the number of performances, box office revenue, and audience attendance compared to the same period last year.
According to the China Association of Performing Arts (CAPA), from January to March, a total of 119,000 commercial performances were staged nationwide, attracting a total audience of 38.87 million. Additionally, nationwide revenue from commercial performances (excluding performances at entertainment venues) reached 10.8 billion yuan (about 1.49 billion U.S. dollars), up 116.87 percent year on year.
As live performances such as drama, dance performances, and music festivals have been gaining increasing popularity, theaters in different places have staged a variety of shows, especially traditional cultural-style plays, stirring enthusiasm of audience for appreciation and consumption.
Among these offerings, the original dramas "Spring Dawn on the Su Causeway," telling the story of the ancient Chinese poet Su Dongpo, has captivated audiences with its unique cultural significance and classic aesthetics. In addition, dance dramas such as the ballet "A Dream of Red Mansions," adapted from a Chinese classic, and the dance drama "The Journey of a Legendary Landscape," have also enchanted theatergoers with their compelling performances.
"The entire stage looks like a scroll, unfolding all scenes before the audience. The progressing of the drama is synonymous with unrolling a scroll, enabling the audience a millennium-traverse in a duration of two hours," said Zhou Liya, chief director of the dance drama " The Journey of a Legendary Landscape".
Furthermore, small theaters and modern performance venues in cities across China are flourishing, attracting more young people by offering innovative performance formats and unique viewing experience.
China’s live performance industry sees strong growth in Q1
China’s live performance industry sees strong growth in Q1
The year 2024 celebrates the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic ties, and it also heralds the China-France Year of Cultural Tourism, a celebration aimed at bolstering cultural and people-to-people exchanges through a series of enriching events.
During a special episode focused on this milestone, cultural experts and influencers from both nations shared insights into the depth of Sino-French cultural interactions.
The discussion, livestreamed from Shanghai on April 22, began with a historical overview, notably when then-Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai introduced President Georges Pompidou to the Yungang Grottoes, a renowned Buddhist cave site in north China's Shanxi. These caves feature intricate carvings that reflect religious and cultural syntheses from the 5th and 6th centuries.
David Gosset, founder of the China-Europe-America Global Initiative, commented on the geopolitical context of the initial outreach.
"People have to remember that we were in the middle of the Cold War, therefore, the world was divided. For a Western country like France to reach out to China, and of course vice versa, it's a beautiful moment, historical diplomatic breakthroughs, means that despite all the geopolitical difficulties, a spirit of cooperation and friendship can prevail," said Gosset.
Xie Dingwei, executive director of the Bund One Art Museum, emphasized the importance of preserving cultural heritage.
"We need to preserve these cultural heritages. We not [just] preserve the sculptures or the buildings itself, but also, it gives us a chance to see hundreds of years ago, how our craftsmanship, our architecture, our human beings, we have reached [such] high levels, which brings us to the present time these treasures, these values. This is something we really cannot afford to lose. Culture is a common language; it doesn't matter you're Eastern art or Western art, somehow they can be connected. So this is something I think it creates a communication channel between the nations," said Xie.
The cultural connection was recently demonstrated during a meeting last April between French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where they enjoyed the performance of "Flowing Water" played on the Guqin by a Chinese artist, symbolizing the flowing friendship between the two nations.
"This communication on art subjects between the nations and different peoples are really, really important. It goes beyond politics, beyond the differences between the nations. But you all go to getting closer to understanding each other," said Xie.
Gosset also supported the notion of fostering unity through cultural platforms, aligning with President Xi Jinping's idea of building a community with a shared future.
"I am completely aligned with this idea. We are on the same boat. Our world is frightened by too many divisions. And I think, what is important is to support the forces that can unite us, so it can be music, and certainly museums, and you need leaders with a vision that does not separate us," said Gosset.
Six decades of China-France diplomatic relations highlighted by cultural exchange
