Immersive theater opens new worlds for audiences, industry

City of light

Shanghai's embrace of cultural innovation has spawned ambitious productions. SAGA City of Light, a Sino-French collaboration with French production company Puy du Fou, transforms a 12,000-square-meter performance area into 1930s Shanghai. It features 100 actors, 50 movie-scale scenes, and 26,000 vintage props.

"We aim to bring the audience as close to reality as possible," said Gilles Ledos, executive creative director at Puy du Fou Asia. "Our intention was not to conjure up a fictional world from scratch; instead, we wanted our guests to seamlessly immerse themselves in a genuine environment."

Ledos said that 1930s Shanghai was deliberately chosen for its rich cultural tapestry. "It was a very cosmopolitan place, and the Paris of the East," he explained.

The production blends Chinese artistry — with 80 percent of the creative team being local talent — and Western theater techniques. Audiences encounter traditional elements like martial arts and shadow puppetry alongside innovative staging that marries Puy du Fou's style with Chinese aesthetics, according to Ledos.

"The inclusiveness of Shanghai culture has created adaptability and integration of foreign cultures. As long as the content and form of the performance are good, Shanghai will embrace you with open arms," he said.