Hong Kong film director Stanley Kwan to direct his first Kunqu opera

Titled Two Belles in Love, the story is adapted from a 350-year-old work of Li Yu, a writer of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It tells the love story between two women in ancient times.

Kwan built his name with a number of melancholy romances, such as Central Stage and Rouge. As a homosexual man, he believes his own experience can help to explore the story's beauty.

The show will have two casts, one all-male and the other all-female. It has been a long tradition in Chinese opera for men to play women and the other way around.

Kunqu master Wang Shiyu is the show's art director.

Fashion designer Guo Pei will design more than 100 outfits for the show. She will also launch a fashion show featuring these garments on April 26 in Beijing's 798 art district.

Li Yinhe, a well-known sociologist, sexologist and activist for gay rights, will work as the show's culture consultant.

Kunqu is a traditional Chinese opera that has a history of 600 years.

The show will be staged in Beijing's Poly Theater from May 11 to 14 and then tour through Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Wuhan and Chengdu.

Video: Cong Fangjun

Voiceover: Renee Haines