Traditional Chinese culture under spotlight on modern stages

Editor's note: China will hold its annual Two Sessions in early March. Ahead of this year's key annual political meetings, CGTN presents "A look at China during the Two Sessions," a special series that takes an in-depth look at the country's endeavors in promoting people's livelihood, rural revitalization, economic development, sci-tech innovation and opening up.

In recent years, the popularity of stage productions based on traditional Chinese culture has been gaining momentum both domestically and internationally.

As this year's Two Sessions is just around the corner, CGTN invited Shen Chen, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the art director of China Oriental Performing Arts Group, to talk about the future trends of Chinese stage performances.

Shen, who directed the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympics and the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, told CGTN that he plans to put forward a proposal about digital theater this year.

"From the initial stage and post-production to watching the performance, the whole process should be digitalized and has a strong sense of the metaverse," he explained, adding that China and the world have entered the digital era.

Shen believes the form of digital theater will change people's minds on a global scale, "just like when the movie 'Avatar' came out, from 2D into 3D."

Traditional culture shines on modern Chinese stages

"The Poetic Dance: The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting" has become one of the most beloved performances in China since its premiere in 2021 in Beijing. Tickets to its shows are now hard to get.

The China Oriental Performing Arts Group dance drama was created based on a traditional Chinese landscape painting from the Song Dynasty (960-1279) titled "A Panorama of Mountains and Rivers."

After debuting in Macao last August and Hong Kong in January, the dance drama will start its global tour and meet audiences overseas this year.

Shen ascribes the rise in popularity of traditional culture-themed productions to the changes in Chinese education.

"The younger generation is more knowledgeable than us. Thus, they are able to appreciate Chinese culture," he said. "In addition, they like to go to the theater to feel the contemporary expression of Chinese traditional culture conveyed at certain moments."

He said artists have also been harnessing inspiration from the nourishing soil of traditional Chinese culture.

As Chinese performances are being staged overseas, Shen stressed that the productions should be excellent and exquisite and able to express Chinese culture accurately and directly.

"We can't make them (foreign theatergoers) understand all the Chinese culture or the part we want to express at that period through one show," he told CGTN. "But we can help them like the culture and be willing to explore."

More forms for China's future performing arts market

Shen describes the future of China's performing arts market as "diverse and unlimited."

"We need to let more young people show their talents and not stick to the past," he said, adding that there should be more forms derived from the current traditional forms like operas, dances, musicals and immersive performances.

"More new forms mean more opportunities for young people to try," said the CPPCC member. "And in the process of trying, some forms might slowly die out, some might gradually rise, and some might combine and create new forms."

He noted that the new forms will be derived spontaneously through the development of economy and culture and people's material and emotional pursuits.

"There will be more forms and more styles, but we must not lose the expression of Chinese culture," Shen said.

Videographer: Han Liude

Video editor: Guo Meiping

Image designers: Li Wenyi, Liu Shaozhen, Li Jingjie