Behind the Curtain: 'Pirate Queen' story unmasked in Chinese musical

Shi Xianggu, a fishing girl who rose to become the legendary "Pirate Queen" in the early 19th century during the Qing Dynasty, has long been a figure of fascination. She defended her waters from foreign warships, burned opium ships in the pursuit of justice, and ultimately accepted the Qing court's amnesty for the well-being of her people.

Now, her extraordinary journey is being retold through the musical The Pirate Queen, which premiered in May in south China's Guangdong Province and is currently touring across China.

The production centers on Shi Xianggu and the Tanka people, a traditional maritime community in southeastern China. For director Xu Jun, Shi Xianggu's story is not simply about power, but also about survival, resilience and compassion.

"There's a line in the musical that reads, 'So there really are pirates who don't care about wealth.' I think that's the highest compliment to Shi Xianggu," Xu said.

He explained that Shi Xianggu sank more than 20 opium ships, refusing to use the wealth gained from wrongdoing for personal benefit, even when her people faced hunger and hardship.

"The musical is built around the idea that everyone has the right to survive," Xu said. At her peak, Shi Xianggu commanded more than 70,000 followers and around 2,000 ships. 

"For a woman to ultimately become a ruler, you can only imagine the resilience that ran through her bones and her blood," said the director.

Meet the 'Queens'

Two actresses share the role of the legendary "Pirate Queen." Liu Haoran, an acclaimed theater artist, said the character reflects many of the resilient women she has portrayed before.

"I think every actress dreams of playing a role like this," Liu said. "Shi Xianggu brings together the strengths of all the roles I've played before."

She also sees parallels between her own journey and Shi Xianggu's rise from the bottom.

"Even during the years when no one noticed me, I kept moving forward on the path I believed in. Like a bamboo shoot, one day you'll finally break through and shine," Liu said.

For singer and actress Wu Xuanyi, who makes her musical theater debut with the production, playing Shi Xianggu has been a completely new challenge.

"Musical theater leaves absolutely no room for mistakes," Wu said. "If something goes wrong, you can't simply stop and start over."

She believes Shi Xianggu's strength comes from constant transformation through adversity. 

"She may appear gentle and delicate on the outside, but deep inside she is incredibly resilient," Wu said. "I hope I can bring her story and that period of history to the audience."

The production also seeks to present a different image of Shi Xianggu from previous portrayals. Xu noted that although the character appeared in movie Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, he wanted this version to highlight not only her appearance, but also her inner strength and spiritual beauty.

Telling a Chinese sea legend through music

Composer Peter Kam said creating the musical required finding a unique sound that reflected the spirit of the sea. Inspired by the sound of the suona, a traditional Chinese instrument, he created music that captures the pirates' individuality, their untamed spirit and their courage to brave the waves.

For Kam, Shi Xianggu's story carries a universal message.

Art should communicate not only what makes us different, but also what we all have in common," he said. "Fate, hardship and joy know no borders."

Xu believes China's rich history offers endless inspiration for storytelling. "I barely knew anything about Shi Xianggu before, yet her story turned out to be so extraordinary," he said. "There are countless historical figures and stories waiting to be explored."

"By making good productions, telling Chinese stories well, and portraying Chinese people authentically, I believe that is already powerful enough," Xu added.

Executive producer: Zhang Jingwen

Producer: Yang Sha

Director: Guo Meiping

Videographer: Wang Hongyuan

Graphic designer: Pei Zihan