Shanghai Cultural Square's year-end performance season showcases a series of excellent performances, with seven masterpieces from six countries. Shanghai Cultural Square | French | Masterpieces

On August 16th, Shanghai Cultural Square announced the end of 2023 performance season. From December 2023 to February 2024, seven major dramas from six countries, including the UK, France, Italy, Russia, Ireland, and China, will be staged consecutively at the Cultural Square, featuring both the return of masterpieces and the emergence of new talents. From 2011 to 2022, a total of 34 domestic and foreign plays and 545 performances were presented by Shanghai Cultural Plaza's year-end drama brands, which has become the expectation of many audiences at the end of each year.

Les Mis é rables - French Musical Edition Concert

Overseas original musicals are still the highlight of this year's year-end performance season. The musical "Les Mis é rables", adapted from Hugo's literary masterpiece, premiered at the Sports Palace in Paris in 1980. As a work with over 70 million viewers, performed in 44 countries, and translated into 22 languages, it is undoubtedly a legend in the history of musicals. Fei Yuanhong, Deputy General Manager of Shanghai Cultural Plaza, remembers that in the summer of 2002, the original Broadway musical "Les Mis é rables" performed 21 consecutive times in Shanghai, which was the first Western classic musical imported from China. At that time, Fei Yuanhong sat in a corner of the theater, playing live subtitles for "Les Mis é rables". He played 21 games in a row, which became an unforgettable experience in his life.

From September 21 to 30, 2018, "Les Mis é rables - French Musical Edition Concert" performed 11 consecutive times at Shanghai Cultural Square. This year, it will perform 13 times at Shanghai Cultural Square from December 15th to 24th. Philip Baru, the producer of "Les Mis é rables - French Musical Edition Concert," said, "In 2018, we first came to Shanghai Cultural Square and the performance venues were packed. The Shanghai audience gave us unimaginable warmth and welcome. It's been so long not to see you for five years!"

The 25th Anniversary Edition of the Irish National Treasure Dance Drama "Dance of the River"

Another classic, the Irish national treasure dance drama "Dance of the River", will also return to the Cultural Square. This work is known for its high difficulty dance techniques and grand stage. It premiered in Dublin in 1995 and has been performed in 12340 venues across 48 countries on 6 continents over the past 28 years, attracting over 28 million viewers. In 2015, the special commemorative edition of the 20th anniversary of "Dance of the River" was released at Shanghai Cultural Square. In August of the same year, "Dance of the River II - Dancing with Waves" was also performed at the Cultural Square. From January 10th to 14th, 2024, the 25th anniversary edition of "Dance of the River" will be re aired.

The original English musical "Once"

The English original musical "Once", a Grand Slam musical that won the Oscar, Grammy, Tony, and Oliver Awards, will first meet with audiences in Shanghai from December 7th to December 10th. "Once" is adapted from the 2006 Irish music film of the same name, with "Slowly Falling" winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The story tells a sweet and sad love story: a guitarist on the streets of Dublin meets a Czech flower girl, and the two gradually get closer due to their obsession with music. British actor and singer Arthur Daviell will play the male lead, who has just won the Best Actor award in the Musical category at the 2023 Oliver Awards. The female lead is played by actress Iness de Clarke, who has appeared in English dramas such as "Little Town Mystery".

The original French musical "Don Huang"

Since 2011, Shanghai Cultural Plaza has successively introduced French musicals such as Notre Dame Cathedral, Romeo and Juliet, and Rock Mozart. There is also a French original musical called "Don Huang" during the year-end performance season, which will be available to the audience from January 25th to February 4th next year. "Don Juan" was created by French composer Felix Gray in 2003. The rhythmic flamenco dance and interspersed Spanish songs make this musical full of strong Spanish flavor. The story tells of Don Juan, a noble son from the ancient Spanish city of Seville. He was naturally promiscuous and did not believe in true love until he met the female sculptor Maria and fell in love at first sight. In the end, he died for love in a duel. Gian Marco Charetti, Robert Marion, and Laurent Ban will play the main characters in Don Juan and meet with audiences in Shanghai.

Russian original musical "Devil Onegin"

"Shanghai Cultural Square has been committed to expanding and introducing multilingual musicals. After French musicals, German musicals, and Spanish musicals, this year it will also present a Russian original musical called" The Devil Onegin ".". "The Devil Onegin" is adapted from Pushkin's long poetic novel "Eugene Onegin", portraying the first "superfluous person" image in Russian literature. This drama is set with a dual male lead of demons and Onegin, bringing a new interpretation and allowing the audience to experience the sorrowful and romantic Russian aesthetics in a highly imaginative plot.

Italian Antoniano Choir New Year Concert

In addition to musicals, different forms of stage performances can also be seen at the Shanghai Cultural Square. After four years, the Italian national treasure level children's choir, the Antoniano Chorus, will return to the Chinese stage and bring a New Year's concert from December 30, 2023 to January 1, 2024. They will perform the latest award-winning songs and classic songs from the 66th Italian Coin Competition, and bring carefully prepared Chinese songs. Antuan's Chinese sisters group Hydrangea Chorus will also perform with Italian children. Sabrina Simone, the conductor of the Antoniano Chorus, said that the children of the choir are very much looking forward to coming to Shanghai and hope to meet new audiences and share their singing with everyone. She also said in newly learned Chinese, "This year we will come to Shanghai to celebrate the New Year with you!"

At the end of 2023 performance season release site at Shanghai Cultural Plaza

In addition, the Chinese version of the play "The Shawshank Redemption", directed by Zhang Guoli and co produced by Chinese Dream and Longma Society, will also be staged from January 17th to 21st next year. This work is adapted from Steven King's short story "The Redemption of Rita Hayworth and Shawshank". Fei Yuanhong said, "Everyone is familiar with the movie version of 'The Shawshank Redemption', but many people are unaware that the theatrical version of 'The Shawshank Redemption' has been on stage for 40 years and is also very classic. This is the only Chinese version of the play at the end of this year, and also the only theatrical work, hoping to bring surprises to the audience."