In the immersive theater production The Deal, the protagonist Marcel (left) harbors a secret crush on his colleague Natalie. China Daily
An immersive theater production is transporting audiences to 1930s Paris, and furthering the city's cultural ambitions, Xing Wen reports.
Stepping aboard the Minghua cruise ship on Shekou's waterfront in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, you are instantly transported to 1930s Paris.
Here, you could follow Marcel, a lowly printing press clerk who hesitates before the woman he loves out of deep-seated insecurity, labors tirelessly for recognition, and simmers under his boss's oppression — until he is lured into an agonizing struggle by a devil's bargain for his soul.
The production gathers actors from diverse cultural backgrounds. CHINA DAILY
You could wander through a lively street market, a clattering printing workshop, Marcel's modest bedroom, a tailor's shop, a bar, and other richly staged environments, coming face-to-face with each character in Marcel's world.
Along the way, you may be asked to help with such small tasks as sorting documents for a clerk, stamping papers, holding a lantern or even picking up a rose for Marcel.
You could choose to overlook the characters reveling in the club on the second floor or join them in dancing. You may observe Marcel's subtle expressions of distress up close by his bedside or watch from afar amid the crowd.
The impoverished Marcel lies on the bed in his humble shack, lost in dreams of love. CHINA DAILY
Though the characters speak languages such as English, French, Spanish and Chinese, their rich body language and expressive gestures allow you to follow the main storyline without clearly understanding the multilingual dialogue.
Scattered among the crowd, some performers play the accordion, cello, and violin, weaving a live musical score throughout the theatrical experience that deepens the drama and enriches every scene.
This is The Deal, an immersive physical theater production that draws inspiration from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's epic Faust and Nikolai Gogol's The Overcoat.
As a resident production aboard the Minghua cruise ship in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, The Deal brings together performers from 12 countries, using expressive theatrics to transport audiences to the world of Marcel in 1930s Paris. CHINA DAILY
The Deal, produced by China Merchants Shekou Industrial Zone Holdings and directed by theater company Gecko's founder and artistic director Amit Lahav, is Shenzhen's first resident immersive physical theater production.
Presented across seven decks and 4,600 square meters of immersive space, each performance accommodates up to 150 viewers.
Since its October premiere, the production has sustained robust ticket sales, consistently drawing audiences not only from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area but also from across China and internationally, including one dedicated attendee from Yantai, Shandong province, who has attended more than 20 performances, according to Zhang Ruolin, marketing director of the cruise ship.
The production features a truly international ensemble of 36 performers from 12 countries.
The Deal aims to bring audiences an immersive theater experience that not only tells a story but also connects deeply with Shenzhen's spirit. CHINA DAILY
Among the performers is Italian dancer Camilla Curiel, who got to visit China for the first time because of the project.
"Personally, I was just very happy to explore a new country," she says.
"What I've witnessed so far is incredible, beautiful scenery. In general, the evenings feel like an Italian summer all the time, so it makes me feel a bit at home, which is amazing. People are really lovely, and the city is buzzing, full of life, full of events."
This production also represents her first involvement in immersive theater.
"Every show feels different compared to a show where the audience is just sitting there and we do our part," she reflects.
The Deal aims to bring audiences an immersive theater experience that not only tells a story but also connects deeply with Shenzhen's spirit. CHINA DAILY
"This really feels like every time you perform, you don't know what kind of show you're going to have — which is quite exciting, because even though the story doesn't change and everything goes as it should, the feel of it shifts with the audience."
Greek performer Fania Grigoriou shares this view.
"Sometimes the audience is rowdy, sometimes rude, sometimes nice. Sometimes they speak English, sometimes they don't seem to care. So we as performers have to adapt, adjust, and reinvent on the spot.
"It feels very cinematic because the audience gets both a really closeup view and a wide frame at the same time. I think that's really exciting for us as performers; figuring out how to balance and how subtle you can be with your character's emotions."
Having performed in the Shanghai edition of the pioneering immersive production Sleep No More, Grigoriou observes that while Shanghai has a deeper historical and cultural foundation in theater, Shenzhen is increasingly attracting producers who are keen to develop theatrical works, stage large-scale productions, and bring in professional talent.
She believes that, as more and more theater companies establish productions in Shenzhen, performers also bear the responsibility of guiding the audience in understanding appropriate conduct within such interactive spaces.
"Because it's quite tricky; knowing instinctively when you can be really up close, and when you need to be a bit more silent," Grigoriou says.
Zhang says that immersive theater holds great growth potential in the Shenzhen market. She notes that the primary age range of audiences for The Deal is between 20 and 40 years old.
Shenzhen, with an average resident age of around 32.5 years, is the youngest major city in China and also leads the country in per capita disposable income, creating an ideal demographic and economic foundation for the immersive theater market, she says.
The Deal aims to bring audiences an immersive theater experience that not only tells a story but also connects deeply with Shenzhen's spirit. CHINA DAILY
"Shenzhen is striving to become an international capital of performing arts, with both market trends and policy support actively fostering the growth of theatrical productions," Zhang explains.
"While the scale and artistic maturity of immersive theater here may not yet rival cities like Shanghai or Beijing, the potential for expansion and creative development is substantial."
The Deal is a centerpiece of the recent renovation and transformation of the Minghua cruise ship. Originally built in France and later acquired by China, the vessel once sailed to destinations including Tanzania, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Australia.
Since 1983, it has been permanently moored at Shekou in Shenzhen, where it has served as accommodation and a reception venue for foreign and Hong Kong investors, quietly witnessing Shenzhen's remarkable evolution from a fishing village into a global metropolis — a transformation propelled by China's reform and opening-up.
As a resident production in Shenzhen, The Deal aims to embody the city's spirit.
"This show really gives a message of doing everything for your dreams. It's about making your dreams come true. People come to Shenzhen from everywhere in China because they carry that kind of promise. I think that's why the show lands really well in this specific place," says Andres Velasquez, the Colombian resident director of The Deal.
