As golden September arrives, Guangdong's arts scene steps into the spotlight. Opera houses and theatres across the province are preparing for a month filled with international masterpieces and homegrown productions.
Here's your guide to the must-see shows in Guangdong this September!
Dance Drama: Confucius
大型民族舞剧《孔子》
(Photo: Guangzhou Opera House)
Following the life of the Chinese philosopher Confucius, the dance drama restages how he confronted various difficult challenges in life to become China's most influential sage.
First staged in 2013, Confucius won top honors at China's National Art Troupes Performance Season, including Outstanding Production, Outstanding Young Director (Kong Dexin), and Outstanding Stage Design (Yang Donglin). Since then, it has toured nationwide and reached international stages such as Lincoln Center in New York, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and the Shinjuku Bunka Center in Tokyo. The New York Times described it as "a cultural calling card for China."
(Photo: China National Opera & Dance Drama Theatre)
Date: 7:30 pm (Monday and Tuesday), September 8 and 9, 2025
Venue: Opera Hall, Guangzhou Opera House
Address: No.1 Zhujiang West Road, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District, Guangzhou
Price: ¥180, 280, 480, 680, 780, 880
Tickets available at: https://www.gzdjy.org/piao/4/21984.html?v=0808105548
Opera: LA Traviata
歌剧《茶花女》
(Photo: Guangming Culture and Art Center)
Marking its first tour to China, the Greek National Opera's production of La Traviata will make its only Chinese stop this September at the Shenzhen Guangming Culture and Art Center.
The opera tells the story of Violetta, a courtesan, and her romantic relationship with Alfredo, the son of a respectable bourgeois family in Paris. Their love is challenged, broken, and briefly restored before ending in tragedy.
This Verdian masterpiece is hailed as one of the most popular works in the repertoire, featuring hundreds of performances each year at the world's greatest opera houses and attracting thousands of spectators. In La Traviata, Verdi masterfully portrays his heroine's psychology. Depending on the shifts in her mental state, his vocal composition changes from one act to another. Act I captures the glamour of Paris, Act II explores the heroine's emotional depth and intimacy, and the final act builds
(Photo: Guangming Culture and Art Center)
Date: 7:30 pm (Saturday and Sunday), September 13 and 14, 2025
Venue: Grand Theater, Guangming Culture and Art Center, Shenzhen
Address: Intersection of Guanguang Road and Chuangtou Road, Guangming District, Shenzhen
Price: ¥180, 280, 380, 480, 680, 880
Ticket Channel: Via WeChat official mini-program "光明文化艺术中心票务管家" (pinyin: guang ming wen hua yi shu zhong xin piao wu guan jia)
Flamenco dance drama: Carmen
弗拉门戈舞剧《卡门》
(Photo: Musicfans)
The Ballet Flamenco de Madrid, a leading name in the flamenco world, has performed for Spanish royalty and global dignitaries for over two decades. Its signature production, Carmen, directed by Luciano Rez, has become one of the most frequently staged versions of Carmen worldwide.
This production stays faithful to the original story while highlighting universal themes: the liberation of the female spirit, resistance against the objectification of women, and the dilemmas of love and destiny. With fiery dance, powerful rhythms, and unforgettable passion, it delivers a true Spanish cultural experience.
(Photo: Musicfans)
Shenzhen
Date: 8:00 pm (Thursday and Friday), September 18 and 19, 2025
Venue: Huaxia Art Center, Shenzhen
Address: No. 1 Guangqiao Street, Overseas Chinese Town
Price: ¥180, 280, 380, 480, 680, 880
Ticket Channel: Via WeChat official mini-program "深圳华夏艺术中心" (pinyin: shen zhen hua xia yi shu zhong xin)
Guangzhou
Date: 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm (Saturday), September 20, 2025
Venue: Symphony Hall, Xinghai Concert Hall
Address: No.33 Qingbo Road, Ersha Island
Price: ¥180, 280, 380, 480, 680, 880
Where to get tickets: Scan the QR code below
Musical: Thrill Me
音乐剧《Thrill Me》
(Photo: Southern Theatre)
Thrill Me is an off-Broadway suspense musical by Stephen Dolginoff, who wrote the lyrics and composed the music. Inspired by the true crime case of Leopold and Loeb, the show features just two actors, one piano, and one pianist. A staple of small-scale off-Broadway theatre, it has been performed in over 20 countries and more than 10 languages.
The story follows two wealthy young men from elite American families who are convicted of kidnapping and murder. Told through flashbacks, the musical gradually reveals the shocking events that led to their crime.
Date: September 26 – October 5, 2025
Venue: Guangzhou Southern Theater
Address: No.80 Jiaoyu Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou
Price: ¥180, 280, 380, 480, 580, 680
Where to get tickets: Via WeChat official account "广州南方剧院票务管家" (pinyin: guang zhou nan fang ju yuan piao wu guan jia)
Reporter | Li Muzi, Wu Fengxia (Intern)
Editor | Hu Nan, James Campion, Shen He
