Puppet showcase opens in Beijing

A national showcase of traditional Chinese puppetry and shadow play will be held from July to August at Shunyi Grand Theatre in Beijing, according to the event organizers.

The event will present 10 performances featuring five major forms of Chinese puppet and shadow play. Audiences will have the opportunity to experience northern Sichuan giant puppets, Yangzhou rod puppets, Quanzhou string puppets, Huazhou shadow play and Zizhong medium-sized rod puppets, offering a broad introduction to China's diverse puppet traditions and intangible cultural heritage.

The showcase brings together award-winning productions covering themes such as Chinese mythology, fantasy, folk traditions and stories of youth. Designed for audiences of all ages, the performances are suitable for families, traditional culture enthusiasts and young audiences. A collection of themed cultural and creative products inspired by the productions will also be available throughout the event.

Five productions will be staged during the showcase, each representing a distinctive regional tradition. They include a musical puppet production inspired by the legend of the carp leaping over the Dragon Gate, an immersive fantasy performance based on the Classic of Mountains and Seas, a traditional Quanzhou string puppet variety performance, a multimedia shadow play adaptation of the Nezha story, and an original rod puppet production inspired by the childhood of Chinese painter Zhang Daqian. Combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary stage technology, the productions highlight the continuing vitality of China's puppet and shadow play arts.

Individual tickets are priced at 280 yuan, while discounted packages are available for audiences attending two to five performances.