As October arrives, Guangdong's theaters and cultural spaces burst into life with music, movement, and imagination. From award-winning dance dramas to open-air concerts, the month promises a vibrant program of performances. Here's your guide to the highlights.
Dance Drama: Awakening Lion
大型民族舞剧《醒·狮》
Poster of Awakening Lion (Photo: Guangdong Art Theatre)
More than just a performance, Awakening Lion is a story of resilience and self-discovery. Drawing inspiration from the centuries-old Cantonese lion dance, the production combines martial arts, dance, and folk songs to follow the journey of two young lion dancers in Guangdong. Set against the backdrop of the First Opium War (1840-1842), the drama depicts the Chinese people's first large-scale, self-initiated struggle against foreign aggression in modern Chinese history, taking place in Guangdong. It highlights the spiritual awakening and courageous resistance of the region's people.
The dance drama took over five years to bring to the stage and premiered in 2018 after multiple rounds of refinement. Having won the Lotus Award, the highest honor in Chinese dance, along with several other national prizes, Awakening Lion is one of the most celebrated contemporary dance dramas in China.
Stage photo of Awakening Lion (Photo: Guangzhou Song and Dance Theatre)
Show Details
Time: 7:30 pm, Saturday, October 11; 3:00 pm, Sunday, October 12
Venue: Guangdong Arts Theater
Address: No.1229 Guangzhou Dadao Zhong, Tianhe District, Guangzhou (广州市天河区广州大道中1229号)
Duration: Approximately 120 minutes (including a 15-minute intermission)
Price: RMB 80, 180, 280, 380, 480, 580
Where to get tickets: Via the official WeChat mini-program "广东艺术剧院" (pinyin: guang dong yi shu ju yuan)
Dance Drama: Du Fu
舞剧《杜甫》
Poster of Du Fu (Photo: Guangdong Friendship Theatre)
Created by renowned choreographers Han Zhen and Zhou Liya, hailed as the "twin stars" of Chinese dance drama, the production portrays the life of Du Fu, one of China's greatest poets during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Renowned for his profound empathy and moral conscience, Du Fu is referred to as the "Poet-Historian" and the "Poet-Sage" by Chinese critics, and has been introduced to readers worldwide as "the Chinese Shakespeare."
Stage Photo of Du Fu (Photo: Guangdong Friendship Theatre)
The dance drama traces both the grandeur and the grief of the Tang Dynasty, capturing Du Fu's hardships and unwavering devotion to his country. In this 2.0 edition, Du Fu introduces new choreography depicting imperial women during the An Lushan Rebellion, highlighting their hardships and powerless fates amid the sweeping tides of history.
Stage Photo of Du Fu (Photo: Guangdong Friendship Theatre)
Show Details
Time: 7:30 pm, Wednesday and Thursday, October 22-23
Venue: Guangdong Friendship Theatre
Address: No.696 Renmin Bei Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou (广州市越秀区人民北路698号)
Duration: Approximately 110 minutes (including a 15-minute intermission)
Price: RMB 100, 180, 280, 380, 480, 680, 880
Where to get tickets: Via the official WeChat account "广东省友谊剧院" (pinyin: guang dong sheng you yi ju yuan)
Ersha Island Four Seasons Concert Series: Organ audiovisual performance
二沙岛四季音乐会 | 管风琴假日之旅 巨无霸声光秀：从巴赫到太空的奇幻派对
Poster of the organ audiovisual performance (Photo: Xinghai Concert Hall)
In October, the Ersha Island Four Seasons Concert Series, anchored at Xinghai Concert Hall, officially kicks off. This year's program spans both outdoor and indoor stages, with more than 120 performances from October to December bringing music to parks, lawns, and intimate cultural venues across the island.
From October 1 to 3, the concert hall's prized organ will take center stage, presenting masterpieces such as Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor, Experience, and themes from Interstellar. Enhanced by immersive 3D light projections, the concerts promise audiences a stunning fusion of sight and sound.
Show Details
Time: 11:15 am/3:45 pm/5:15 pm, Wednesday to Friday, October 1-3 (three shows each day)
Venue: Symphony Hall, Xinghai Concert Hall
Address: No.33 Qingbo Road, Yuexiu District, Ersha Island (广州市越秀区二沙岛晴波路33号)
Duration: Approximately 30 minutes
Price: RMB 50
Where to get tickets: Scan the QR code below
*Get more details on the official website of Xinghai Concert Hall: https://www.concerthall.com.cn/index.php
Murder on the Orient Express
英文原版话剧《东方快车谋杀案》
Poster of Murder on the Orient Express (Photo: Pingshan Theatre)
Agatha Christie, celebrated worldwide as the "Queen of Crime," remains one of Britain's most enduring literary figures. Among her masterpieces, Murder on the Orient Express stands out as a classic of detective fiction, following the brilliant Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot as he investigates a chilling murder aboard a snowbound luxury train. Behind the intertwined secrets of twelve passengers, the story probes timeless questions of justice and morality.
Stage photo of Murder on the Orient Express (Photo: Pingshan Theatre)
This English-language stage adaptation, first staged in south China, brings Christie's suspense to life with a striking 360-degree rotating set that recreates the train's compartments in meticulous detail, immersing audiences in the drama. The script, adapted by Tony Award-winning playwright Ken Ludwig, heightens the intrigue and tension, while the original British touring cast delivers an authentic and riveting performance.
Stage photo of Murder on the Orient Express (Photo: Pingshan Theatre)
Show Details
Time: 3:00 pm/5:00 pm, Thursday to Sunday, October 16-19
Venue: Pingshan Theatre
Address: No.2 Huide Road, Liuhe Community, Pingshan Subdistrict, Pingshan District, Shenzhen (深圳市坪山区坪山街道六和社区汇德路2号坪山大剧院)
Duration: Approximately 135 minutes (including 20-minute intermission)
Price: RMB 180, 280, 380, 580, 680, 880
Where to get tickets: Via the official WeChat account "坪山大剧院" (pinyin: ping shan da ju yuan)
Reporter | Li Muzi, Liang Fuhua (Intern)
Editor | Hu Nan, James Campion, Shen He
