Starting December 24, the immersive musical “Golden Wind and Jade Dew” will be showcased at the Huguang Guild Hall in Beijing, potentially providing a new model for the revitalization of historical venues.
Produced by the Beijing Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Tianqiao Shengshi Investment Group, and created by Kyoto Cultural Investment Management Co., Ltd., “Golden Wind and Jade Dew” draws inspiration from the cultural heritage of Beijing opera. The musical narrates the vibrant history of Beijing opera and its esteemed artists through a dramatic and engaging musical format.
The story follows a passionate journey of personal growth set against the backdrop of early Republican China. The protagonist, part of the Qunming Opera Troupe performing at the Huguang Guild Hall, finds himself caught up in a murder mystery. Amidst the chaos, the troupe manager and master, Xi Fu, is wrongly accused, and it falls upon the martial artist Jin Sheng to rescue him and revive the struggling troupe. Throughout the tale, tough choices concerning family, love, friendship, and national duty lead to a dramatic rebirth, with Jin Sheng embodying the spirit of resilience.
Director Li Zhuoqun highlighted key themes of “Beijing, Republican era, theater, and youth” during a press conference on October 11. She explained that the script combines elements of late Qing mystery with the essence of the Republican period, using a play-within-a-play structure to portray the passionate development within the theater world. The musical employs modern lighting, sound, and subtitles to create an immersive experience for audiences, transporting them back to the Republican era. By merging contemporary music styles like rock and swing with traditional opera, the production aims to present an engaging and compelling Chinese musical.
In June, the production team conducted auditions and selected 18 actors from top educational institutions, including the Beijing Dance Academy and the Central Academy of Drama. The cast began their vocal and physical training in August, moving on to read-throughs of the script in September, followed by formal rehearsals starting in October.
The creative team includes industry professionals such as acclaimed producer Li Dong, director and rising playwright Li Zhuoqun, co-writer and lyricist Sun Yuxi, composer Professor Jiang Jinghong from the China Academy of Chinese Opera, and visual designer Ren Dongsheng, who is the department head of stage design at the Beijing Dance Academy. The costume design is handled by first-class designer Lan Ling.
As part of a new performing arts initiative spearheaded by the Beijing Federation of Literary and Art Circles, “Golden Wind and Jade Dew” is supported by the Beijing Publicity and Culture Guidance Fund and the “Big Theater in Beijing” arts incubation platform.
