What makes Shanghai the 'port' of musicals in China?

At the 7th China International Import Expo in Shanghai, a musical theater performance attracted a large audience as the city is putting efforts into making this art form a name card of the city.

From hosting world-renowned productions to exporting Chinese musicals globally, Shanghai has earned its title as China's "port" for musical theater.

Fei Yuanhong, general manager of Shanghai Culture Square Theater Management Co., Ltd., told CGTN that international musicals now make up about two-thirds of the shows at Shanghai Culture Square, with over 150 performances annually.

"By the end of this year alone, we will host over 60 performances from five countries, many of which will be national premieres," he said.

Fei sees Shanghai as a central hub for musicals in China. He said the city has a longstanding connection with musical theater. In the 1930s and 1940s, there were many song-and-dance troupes in Shanghai, which can be seen as the early forms of musical theater. At that time, many Broadway musicals were shown in Shanghai in the form of musical films.

"It contributed to Shanghai's history and foundation as a center for musical theater," said Fei, adding that musicals serve as an ideal medium of influx and exchange of culture.

"The impact on Chinese musical theater has been significant, broadening our perspectives and fostering international exchange and collaboration," he said. "In terms of creativity, structure and industry, these musicals have greatly expanded the horizons of people in China."

In February 2023, "King's Table" became the first original Chinese musical sold overseas. This year, its production company announced another project, "The Hidden Side," which is set to be staged in New York.

"We see this as a window for overseas markets to better understand the creative work of our artists," Wang Zuowen, founder and CEO of Amazing Musicals, told CGTN.

Wang believes Shanghai has offered a fertile ground for private companies like his.

"Here, we can access voices, knowledge and cultures from all over the globe," Wang said.

Additionally, he thanked the culture and tourism bureau of Huangpu District, noting it has been very supportive.

"This supportive environment has encouraged private enterprises to invest both time and money, steadily building momentum," Wang said.

Yu Hongyan, an actor who has starred in both "King's Table" and "The Hidden Side," shared his observation that the Chinese musical theater market has thrived in recent years.

"With more shows, we've seen larger audiences, which has provided plenty of direct feedback. This allows us to make effective adjustments immediately," said the actor.

"The quality of our original productions has steadily improved, thanks to the growing skills and abilities of our creators and actors," Yu said. "This is one way the market has been a positive influence on us."

The actor believes that going international is a good thing.

"Both positive and negative feedback from foreign audiences offer us opportunities for growth and improvement," he said, adding that he's proud to be part of the shows.

According to data from China Association of Performing Arts, in 2023, Shanghai accounted for 37.8 percent of all musical performances in China and an impressive 46.7 percent of the box office revenue nationwide. The city continues to make a name for itself by hosting world-class shows while nurturing innovative local productions.

Videographers: Zhao Yuxiang, Guo Meiping

Video editor: Guo Meiping

Cover image: Liu Shaozhen