What's on

Still Life with Chickens

When: Dec 18-21, 7:30 pm; Dec 22, 2:30 pm

Where: Shanghai Grand Theater

Award-winning playwright D.F. Mamea's slice-of-life story paints a vivid portrait of a local neighborhood and colorful characters.

When the mother discovers a mischievous chicken invading her garden her first instinct is to reach for the spade. But what starts out as a skirmish develops into an unlikely friendship. It is an intimate, heartwarming and funny play about friendship, loss, love and life.

Still Life with Chickens won the Adam NZ play award in 2017 and the Playmarket Best Play the same year. It was developed with the support of the Auckland Theater Company.

The Story of Niu Tianci

When: Dec 25-29, 7:30 pm

Where: Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center

Adapted by Lao She novel of the same name in 1934, The Story of Niu Tianci is the latest play directed by Fang Xu.

The play portrays the growth of a young man, which reminds us of young people today and the philosophy of Chinese parents toward education.

When a couple with no heirs found an abandoned child on their doorstep, they decided to adopt him and give him the name Niu Tianci－which means "gift from heaven".

As an infant, Niu's hands and feet were bound by his parents to prevent him from developing bandy legs. Niu's mother wanted him to become a government official, while his father hoped he would take over the family business in later life. As a young man, Niu attended the best school and was an obedient student. But contrary to his parent's wishes, Niu learned very little and struggled with the social environment.

Emily Loves to Bounce

When: Dec 27-Jan 12, time varies

Where: Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center

Inspired by three of the most loved books by Stephen Michael King－Henry and Amy, Emily Loves to Bounce and Patricia, the play creates a whimsical world full of balls and boxes, where amazing ideas express themselves in extraordinary ways.

In the play, Emily is full of life and smiles constantly. But most of all, she's full of bounce. On her head, on her toes, on her bottom. Skipping bounces, springing bounces, singing bounces. Wherever she may be, you can be sure she's in the air!

Follow carefree Henry and practical Amy as they turn the world upside down and right way round, and learn that working together in spite of their differences brings out the best in everyone.

Emily Loves to Bounce is suited for children between ages 4 to 8 and is built around a series of games, songs and imaginings, rather than a traditional story structure.

Tripula

When: Jan 2-12, time varies

Where: Hangzhou Grand Theater

Tripula tells of a static journey in a balloon.

In the play, two scientists have discovered a new way to travel and exposed a group of passengers to their idea. The balloon travels through space, close to the limits of reality, allowing people to go to places that until now nobody suspected existed. The trip promises to be gentle and poetic, but setbacks arise that force passengers to join the crew.

The Farres Bros and Co transform a hot-air balloon into an unforgettable theatrical experience.

Spring Awakening

When: Jan 10-18, 7:30 pm; Jan 11, 12 and 18, 2 pm

Where: Shanghai Culture Square

Spring Awakening, the 2006 emotionally powerful, sexually frank and Tony-winning musical by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater, has been staged around the world and is heading to China. The staging is directed and choreographed by Spencer Liff, who choreographed the acclaimed 2015 Broadway revival of Spring Awakening.

Liff directs and choreographs with an entirely Chinese cast which speaks in Chinese and sings in English.

The musical is a modern landmark in the theater of the United States; an explicit tale of 19th century German teenagers coming to grips with their sexuality, both straight and gay. Sater's lyrics and book deals head-on with such controversial topics as abortion and suicide.

Xuanzang's Pilgrimage

When: Feb 29-March 1, 7:30 pm

Where: Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center

Xuanzang's Pilgrimage is China's first traditional concert drama performed by the China National Traditional Orchestra.

The drama tells the story of the Buddhist monk Xuanzang (602-664), who traveled the Silk Road across China on a pilgrimage to India. The story is brought to life by the 80-piece traditional Chinese orchestra, 24 performers and elaborate costumes. Xuanzang's 17-year journey was driven by his desire to discover religious texts that had not yet arrived from India to China. His journey is recorded in detail in the classic text Great Tang Records on the Western Regions.

The production showcases the diverse yet connected cultures found along the legendary Silk Road, combining music from China's Han, Uygur, Kazak, Tajik and other ethnic groups, and featuring exotic instruments such as the zither, or Chinese harp (guzheng), dulcimer and eagle flute.

The China National Traditional Orchestra was founded in Beijing in 1960 and has received wide acclaim for its innovative presentations.

The orchestra highlights traditional Chinese musical themes while incorporating modern technology.