On October 1, Shenzhen will host the world premiere of The Deal, an original immersive physical theatre production on the cruise ship Minghua (formerly MV Ancerville). The premiere coincides with the ship's reopening as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA)'s first immersive theatre cruise. The event marks a milestone for the region's cultural scene.
The concept image of the upgraded Minghua (Photo: Sea World Ancerville)
Unlike traditional theatre, The Deal abandons fixed seating and invites audiences to explore eight distinct performance areas aboard the Minghua. The cruise ship has been transformed into a fully immersive performance space. Set in 1930s Paris, the production allows audiences to follow the actors throughout the performance. They can wander through a bustling Parisian street, step into a tense office, or dance to live jazz in a smoky bar, while experiencing close-up, interactive moments along the way.
Stage photo of The Deal (Photo: Ding Xiao)
Stage photo of The Deal (Photo: Ding Xiao)
Inspired by Goethe's Faust and Gogol's The Overcoat, The Deal follows Marcel, a timid office worker who falls for a colleague but is hampered by workplace rivalry and social inequality. In a desperate bid for success, he strikes a bargain with the devil, only to find that fleeting triumph comes at a heavy cost. Themes of ambition, temptation, and redemption weave realism, mythology, and romance into the production.
The show is the product of an international collaboration led by UK performance artist Amit Lahav, with a cast of 36 professional actors from 12 countries across Europe and Asia. The performance relies on physical expression rather than traditional dialogue, using movement and breath to convey emotion.
Stage photo of The Deal (Photo: Ding Xiao)
Stage photo of The Deal (Photo: Ding Xiao)
Show details
Opens: October 1, 2025, as a resident production at the Minghua cruise theatre
Time:15:00 / 20:00
Venue: The cruise ship Minghua (formerly MV Ancerville), Shenzhen Sea World, Guangdong (深圳海上世界明华轮)
Address: No.1128 Wanghai Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong (广东省深圳市南山区望海路1128号)
Duration: Approximately 120 minutes
Price:
Early Bird tickets: 498 yuan
Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday evening tickets: 580 yuan
Sunday afternoon & Holiday: 680 yuan
Recommended for: 14+
More info: Visit the official WeChat account "海上世界明华轮" (pinyin: hai shang shi jie ming hua lun)
About Minghua
Actual shots of the Minghua (Photo: Sea World Ancerville)
The Minghua, formerly known as MV Ancerville, was a 10,000-ton ship with nine decks, launched in 1962 and christened by French President Charles de Gaulle as a luxury private cruise ship. In April 1973, it was purchased by China and officially renamed Minghua. After undertaking a series of important transport missions, the ship ended its maritime operations in August 1983 and arrived in Shekou, Shenzhen. Following nearly six months of refurbishment, it was transformed into China's first integrated maritime tourism centre, combining hotel accommodation and entertainment facilities.
On January 26, 1984, Deng Xiaoping visited the Shekou Industrial Zone in Shenzhen and boarded the Minghua. He inscribed the words "Sea World" (Haishang Shijie), which subsequently became the ship's more widely recognized name.
Today, the ship is a landmark destination for visitors. In 2025, the Minghua will complete a new round of refurbishment and reopen to the public. The renovated ship will offer a total operational area of 15,000 square metres, including a 4,600-square-metre immersive theatre. Following the upgrade, the Minghua will adopt a unique immersive performance model, combining immersive theatre with themed commercial spaces, creating a new cultural and artistic landmark as well as a destination for consumption in the GBA region.
Actual shots of the Minghua (Photo: Sea World Ancerville)
Reporter | Li Muzi
Video | Sea World Ancerville
Editor | Hu Nan, James Campion, Shen He
