“Cosmopolitan Jing’an, Drama in the Air”:
Creating Cultural Exemplars Empowering Urban Development
—2024 Shanghai · Jing’an Modern Drama Valley Annual Event Announcement
The 2024 Shanghai · Jing’an Modern Drama Valley, jointly hosted by the Jing’an District People’s Government, Shanghai Media Group, and Shanghai Theatre Academy, held a press conference on March 25 at the Shanghai Television Building. Long Wanli (Deputy District Mayor of Jing’an District People’s Government), Huang Changyong (President of Shanghai Theatre Academy), and Chen Yuren (Vice President of Shanghai Media Group) announced the key highlights of each section and officially launched the annual event. Representatives from relevant organizations, performing arts productions, and news media attended the press conference.
In 2024, the year marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and a crucial year for achieving the goals and tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan, the Shanghai · Jing’an Modern Drama Valley adheres to the theme of “Cosmopolitan Jing’an, Drama in the Air” and features three classic sections: “Famous Drama Performance, Drama in the Air, and One Drama Awards”. The event was held from April 26 to May 13. Six well-known figures from the cultural and artistic industry, namely Pu Cunxin, Xi Meijuan, Jiao Huang, Sun Ganlu, Teng Junjie, and Ma Yili, serve as members of the annual art committee.
Famous Drama Performance: Masterpieces stand tall and original creations offer diverse and abundant popularity
This year, a record-breaking number of 24 outstanding domestic and foreign classic productions were showcased, totaling 104 performances. These performances were held in nine theaters, with an impressive 83% Shanghai premiere rate. The Jing’an District People’s Government provided subsidies and rewards for all the showcased productions. Directed by Wang Xiaoying and starring Ma Yili, the stage play “A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains” is adapted from a novel by Sun Ganlu, a recipient of the Mao Dun Literature Prize. This highly anticipated production served as the opening drama of the Drama Valley and premiered on the evening of April 26 at the Majestic Theater. The masterpieces of the theatrical lineup included “887”, an autobiographical masterpiece of Robert Lepage, the acclaimed Canadian “theatrical magician” and interdisciplinary creative genius from the contemporary international theater scene who made his debut in Shanghai; “Tempest Project”, the final theatrical work by world-renowned theater maestro Peter Brook; “Waiting for Godot” directed by Theodoros Terzopoulos, the initiator and founder of the Drama Olympics and renowned Greek director; “Faust” directed by Rimas Tuminas who is immensely popular with Chinese audiences; and “Julius Caesar”, a Peking-Kunqu new opera collaborated between Peking opera master Wu Xingguo and the specially invited “Prince of Kunqu opera” Zhang Jun.
Theatrical adaptations of literary classics shine brilliantly, reflecting the contemplation and insights of the era. “Life & Times of Michael K”, a novel by South African Nobel laureate J.M. Coetzee, had its Chinese premiere at the Jing’an Drama Valley stage, presented by the prestigious Baxter Theatre Centre and Handspring Puppet Company from South Africa; “Camel Xiangzi”, directed by Fang Xu who is a director engaged in adapting Lao She’s books, was presented by an all-male cast in celebration of the 125th anniversary of the birth of Lao She; “Thunderstorm”, a renowned Chinese drama directed by Pu Cunxin and performed by teachers from the Shanghai Theatre Academy; and “Border Town”, an environmentally immersive musical drama adapted from Shen Congwen’s novel of the same name. All of them were highly anticipated.
Popular works such as the local hit musical in Shanghai “B for Busy”, Wang Yaoqing’s solo performance “Der Kontrabass”, Magnificent Culture’s “How Are You” written by Wan Fang, and the National Theatre of China’s play “Love! Chekhov”, as well as emerging original forces such as the Theatre de la Feuille’s latest masterpiece “Fall and Flow”, “Lost Long Forever Found”, an original drama written and directed by Gu Lei, the autobiographical monologue theater “Where Is the Nearest Barrier-free Toilet?” adapted based on real-life stories of a video blogger who is a wheelchair user, and “I am Now Seriously Mending Love and Dreams on the Snowfield—This Sentence Is Not True” directed by Zhou Zhongyu, a new drama star, jointly showed the infinite charm of theatrical art and its strong appeal in the market.
In 2024, which marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, the Modern Drama Valley organized a special “Themed Festival” France Theater Unit. This unit included productions such as “Tempest Project” from Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord in Paris, the psychological circus drama “Lento e Violento”, and the contemporary musical theater “Femme Capital”, which showed the aesthetics and quality of contemporary French drama.
Drama in the Air: Jing’an picture of “city as a stage, everyone as a protagonist”
“Drama in the Air” is the best embodiment of the principles of a “People’s City, People’s Festival”, and it is also one of the most powerful symbols of Shanghai · Jing’an Modern Drama Valley. According to Deputy District Mayor Long Wanli’s introduction, for the first time this year, separate sub-venues have been set up in all 14 sub-districts and towns across the district. Social organizations and community teams took turns performing in a total of 300 sessions of public activities, creating a grand stage for all citizens with distinct themes and unique characteristics under the banner of “Drama in the Air” and showcasing the charm and spirit of Jing’an. The Chinese and Foreign Families’ Drama Contest, themed “One Family One Drama, A Great Family Drama”, was open for submissions from the Yangtze River Delta region and selected areas nationwide. Teams could be formed by relatives, friends, colleagues, or neighbors. It was expected that over 2,000 “family” participants would take part, aiming to create a “Citizen Cultural Festival” that embodies the new era of civilized practices and cultural engagement.
Shanghai · Jing’an Modern Drama Valley, Jing’an Music Festival (formerly known as the JZ Spring Music Festival), and Shanghai Jing’an World Coffee Culture Festival are the three major cultural brand events in Jing’an. This year, they were held concurrently during the May Day holiday, creating “Three Festivals Convergence” with the maximum impact of brand resources. These activities established sub-venues in business districts such as Shanghai Jiuguang Department Store, CITIC Pacific, HKRI Taikoo Hui, MOHO Mall, Jing’an Joy City, Suzhou Creek MixC World, Daning Life Hub, Shanghai Jiuguang Center, and Daning Music Plaza. Besides, some art galleries and social institutions in Jing’an District organized cultural activities to benefit the public. Various enterprises and brands engaged in diversified cross-border cooperation, collectively enhancing the secondary brand influence of these activities.
As the “base camp of Drama Valley”, Jing’an District Cultural Center hosted drama performances, competitions, and appreciation events. It also set up drama workshops and experience camps to bring together drama professionals and enthusiasts, cultivate drama families, build a communication platform, and create leisure spaces for drama communities. At the Historical Memorial Hall of the Central Bureau after the Third National Congress of the Communist Party of China, an immersive drama experience themed around revolutionary stories transported the audience back to the extraordinary years of the founding of the Communist Party of China.
Centering on the theme of “Drama and City” and focusing on the hot topic of “How to Continuously Innovate and Integrate Drama Art in the Age of Intelligence”, Modern Drama Valley continued to hold the “Drama and City” Forum this year. According to Huang Changyong, President of Shanghai Theatre Academy, relevant experts, scholars, and student representatives from the media were invited to engage in insightful and professional dialogues in the form of roundtable conferences.
Integrated development of culture, business, tourism, and sports: Drama becomes a new interface for “lifestyle-market consumption”
This year’s Modern Drama Valley introduced cultural IPs into important commercial landmarks in Jing’an District for the first time, innovating a new model that transforms cultural traffic into market consumption. On April 1, the Zhang Yuan special pop-up store for the musical “B for Busy” officially opened. Here, citizens could visit “Bai’s Home” from the musical and experience scriptwriting, music creation, costume design, rehearsals, and performances in various spaces such as the audio-visual room, costume room, and living room. Every weekend, different activities like sharing sessions and handicraft workshops were held, immersing visitors in the world of drama through exhibitions and photo opportunities. From April 13 to May 4, “Happy Circus” launched a parade route that included Shanghai Circus World, Shanghai Jiuguang Center, and Daning Life Hub. With interactive performances featuring clowns and magic, this initiative strengthened the cooperation between “ERA cultural tourism IPs” and the business district in the Daning area. Moreover, by using the two business districts as nodes, brands were encouraged to organize public-benefit activities, creating highlights and engagement points for citizens to experience and consume. For the first time, Blue Bottle Coffee, a global specialty coffee brand, cooperated with Modern Drama Valley and the musical “B for Busy” to launch a special limited edition drink called Jasmine New Orleans-style Coffee. Additionally, Erquanyin Drinking Water, known for its exploration of tea and spring culture, became the designated water for the annual activities of Modern Drama Valley, unlocking a new way for cross-sector brand cooperation.
The interactive outdoor art installation and the drama “Random Door” were established in three major business districts covering the southern, central, and northern parts of Jing’an District: Jiuguang Department Store, Suzhou Creek MixC World, and Shanghai Jiuguang Center. By opening the “Random Door”, citizens could interact face-to-face with drama masters who appeared randomly. This installation in urban public spaces integrated drama art with citizens at zero distance, creating a new landscape of interaction with art, which was expected to attract many citizens and tourists to the business districts.
The “Drama Cultivation Map” and “Drama Book Drifting”, launched for the first time, also gained high recognition in Jing’an District. The “Drama Cultivation Map”, introduced in April, offered citizens a unique city walk route through Jing’an District, weaving through various parts of Shanghai to discover drama elements hidden in daily life and reap unexpected benefits. “Drama Book Drifting” provided a delightful encounter with literature and drama. In the mobile library of Jing’an District Library, key business districts, cooperative brands, and other “preset + random” locations, people could find a good book, engage in spiritual dialogue with the author, or share their favorite drama books to create meaningful connections. On April 23, World Book Day, a launch ceremony was held at the Shanghai Writers’ Association, with famous cultural expert Zhao Lihong invited as a guest.
One Drama Awards: 14 awards gather famous drama troupes and dramas as well as well-known figures in Jing’an
The “One Drama Awards” focused on creating a professional and influential award for Chinese drama. 14 awards were selected, including the Annual Drama, Annual Classic Repertoire, Annual Best Small Theater, Annual Best Imported Drama, Annual Best Producer, Annual Best Director, Annual Best Original Drama, Annual Best Adapted Drama, Annual Emerging Director, Annual Best Stage Design, Annual Best Actor and Actress, Outstanding Contribution Award of Chinese Drama, and Annual Media Attention Award for 2023. By the time of release, application materials for 350 awards from 64 production units and 86 dramas had been received, setting a new record for the number of annual applications. Many influential troupes and classic dramas participated in the award selection for the first time. The preliminary evaluation began on April 6. On May 13, the award ceremony of “One Drama Awards” was held at Shanghai Art Theater. All representatives of finalists, cultural experts, and media personnel were invited to witness the announcement of annual awards and the on-site awarding.