At this summer's first performance of the children's play Tong You Shan Hai, or Journey Through the Classic of Mountains and Seas, a young girl in a pink dress walked onto the stage. The cast, led by the fox character Xiaojiu, invited the audience to sing Happy Birthday.
The girl has become a familiar face to the production.
"She has been coming to see the show since she was 3 years old and has returned every year for the past three years," director Ye Xunqian said. "I'm not sure whether we've been watching her grow up, or she's been growing up with our play."
Now in its fourth consecutive summer season in Beijing, Tong You Shan Hai reimagines stories from the ancient Chinese classic through an interactive theatrical experience designed for children and their parents.
Running from July 10 through mid-August at Beijing's 77 Theatre, the production encourages audiences to participate rather than simply watch. Before each performance, audience members vote for two of six mythological characters whose stories will be featured, meaning no two performances are exactly alike.
Each summer, many parents worry that their children are spending too much time using screens. Ye believes live theater offers a compelling alternative.
"I'm confident this show is more engaging than a smartphone," he said.
According to Ye, parents often arrive assuming a children's play is only for kids, checking their phones while waiting for the performance to begin. Within minutes, however, many find themselves drawn into the story with their children.
Actors regularly invite children to help deliver dialogue, imitate the movements of mythical birds, or use their bodies to re-create the shapes of ancient Chinese pictographs. The performance also incorporates wordplay, folk sayings and rap-inspired musical numbers.
"We hope parents and children experience the journey together," Ye said.
