Theaters create series of cultural landmarks across nation’s capital
People in Beijing enjoy close relationships with dramas. Watching plays has become an integral part of local residents’ lives.”
Zhang Haijun, a founder of the Lao She Theatre Festival
Beijing has made remarkable achievements in promoting culture and fostering related industries in recent years, with the aim of building itself into a national cultural center.
The capital has added numerous cultural landmarks since 2021, with a range of new theaters and performance facilities opened.
The Beijing People’s Art Theatre, which is considered the flagship for Chinese drama, welcomed its fifth theater — the Beijing International Theatre Centre — in 2021. The center started trial operation with the premiere of the new version of Sunrise, a signature play by renowned playwright Cao Yu (1910-96).
Jixiang Theater, a traditional Chinese opera house located in the center of the city, also reopened to the public in 2021 after being closed for 28 years.
On Nov 5, Lao She Theater opened in Beijing’s Xicheng district. The 300-seat theater is named in honor of the first chairman of the Beijing Federation of Literary and Art Circles, also a famous Beijing-born novelist. It shows the federation’s spirit and commitment to offering great cultural works for the people, according to BFLAC.
Chen Ping, the BFLAC’s current chairman, said that the Lao She Theater will make sustained efforts to support and present superb plays, enabling residents to enjoy a high-quality cultural life.
The theater is also a key project at a multifunctional culture space built by the BFLAC. The space, covering about 4,000 square meters, offers perfect venues for performances, exhibitions and conferences, while creating a friendly environment for artistic creativity, said BFLAC.
From its design and services to the atmosphere, the space offers a glimpse of how the capital’s cultural programs and industries are thriving in the new era, said Fan Di’an, chairman of the Beijing Artist Association.
Beijing plans to build more theaters and other facilities in the coming years, giving the public more access to performing arts, officials said.
The construction of the Beikun International Culture and Art Center in Changping district is progressing smoothly now and the project of the China Acrobatics Art Center has been approved.
To support playwriting and performances, the city government selected some plays and offered them financial backing, in collaboration with foundations such as the Beijing Culture and Art Foundation and the Beijing Culture Guiding Fund.
The opera Mining Town, adapted from the hit TV series of the same name, is a beneficiary of the initiative.
Districts including Dongcheng and Haidian have set up their own foundations to boost performing art industries.
Beijing has also held an array of culture and art events in recent years, as part of efforts to popularize dramatic culture and enrich local people’s lives.
The first Grand Performances in Beijing seasonal productions opened earlier in November and will last through January.
More than 40 plays will be staged in multiple theaters around the city during the season, including dramas, operas, musicals and Kunqu Opera, one of the oldest traditional Chinese art forms.
The event features several nonprofit performances and online activities that allow people to watch some of the plays via livestreaming platforms, according to organizers.
The sixth Lao She Theatre Festival is also underway, with the goal of “making dramas reach out to every corner of the city”, said Zhang Haijun, one of its founders.
Highlights include 50 performances, three forums and 50 dramarelated cultural events. These events are being held in theaters, galleries, scenic spots and even communities across the city, organizer said.
Zhang said that Beijing has abundant dramatic resources that other cities cannot match.
“People in Beijing enjoy close relationships with dramas. Watching plays has become an integral part of local residents’ lives,” Zhang added.