The XiQu Centre’s annual Black Box Chinese Opera Festival 2024 presents groundbreaking experimental productions in a range of regional genres and styles. In addition to the three acclaimed original productions — Farewell My Concubine, Wenguang Explores the Valley, and The Imperial Decree — two collaborative productions from Mainland China will premiere outside the Mainland, featuring innovative cross-genre performances. This year’s programme includes The Dream of the Straw Bridge, an innovative production by the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe, as well as the premiere of Chongqing Chuanju Theatre’s new adaptation of Farewell My Concubine. These productions are adapted for the modern stage, showcasing bold experimentation and a contemporary sensibility, offering a fresh perspective on a heritage art form.

Courtesy of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority;
Photo 2 | Xiqu Centre Original Production: Experimental Cantonese Opera Farewell My Concubine (New Adaptation);
Photo 3 | Xiqu Centre Original Production: Experimental Cantonese Opera The Imperial Decree