2 Zhuhai plays wow audiences in Beijing

Two theatrical productions by the Zhuhai Performing Arts Group were selected among four Guangdong works to meet the public in Beijing from March 29 to April 4, impressing audience members from home and abroad.

The original drama, Dragon Spanning Lingding Sea, depicts the touching stories of how workers and technical staff members overcame difficulties when completing the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, a mega sea-crossing project.

Su Zhibin, chairman of Guangdong G-Box Holdings, noted that the most impressing part of the drama is that many workers sacrificed their family, love, and youth to spend more than 10 years at the construction site.

A scene from the original drama, Dragon Spanning Lingding Sea [Photo by Li Jianshu / Zhuhai Daily]

Su noted that he learned more about Zhuhai after this drama. The city is not only a leisure tourism destination, but is also a place that has made tremendous contribution to China's construction. Now, it will also be known as a place that produces high-quality cultural plays.

Su went on to express the hope that Zhuhai will showcase more high-quality plays in Beijing and even overseas, allowing more young people to have the chance to fall in love with stage plays.

The other Chinese opera, Teochew Letters, revolves around teochew letters, or qiaopi in Chinese. These refer to letters that document the trials and tribulations of Chinese citizens working or living overseas, especially in Southeast Asian countries.

The opera looks back and explores the history of how Chinese overseas laborers struggled to survive in different regions or foreign countries, and their desire to reunite with their home country.

Liang Jiaxi, a Hong Kong resident who has lived in Beijing for more than 10 years, noted that this was the first time that a Zhuhai opera was staged at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing.

Dian Prasetyo Adi, an Indonesian doctoral student of Beijing Language and Culture University, said that there are many overseas Chinese in Indonesia and that their strength is beyond imagination.

Zhuhai has been deepening the reform of its cultural administrative system since 2019 and has been cultivating the Zhuhai Performing Arts Group since then as well.

Zou Jianhong, art director of the Zhuhai Performing Arts Group, noted that the group will continue to release more high-quality works.

Since 2023, a total of 61 outstanding theatrical productions countrywide have been selected to be showcased in Beijing with support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Beijing municipal government.