From August 18th to 21st 2025, under the guidance of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and hosted by the China Theatre Association, with Nouvelles d’Europe as the organiser, the Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe successfully concluded its UK tour in London as part of the program Magnificent Opera, Connecting Hearts through Art.
This cross-cultural artistic feast ignited a wave of Chinese opera fever in London. Two performances at the Shaw Theatre were sold out, a pop-up showcase drew crowds of passers-by, and in-depth exchanges and visits sparked lively discussions. Together, thay allowed British audiences to fully experience the unique charm of traditional Chinese opera.
On the evening of 21st August, the opening ceremony of the London leg of the UK–Germany tour was held in the gallery of the second floor of the Shaw Theatre. Distinguished guests from the cultural, political, and business communities of both China and the UK attended the event, including: Li Liyan, Minister-Counsellor for Culture at the Chinese Embassy in the UK; Xie Li, Member of the Presidium and Secretary of the Secretariat of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles (CFLAC); Dinah Pounds, Mayor of Cambridge; Wang Dengbo, Chairman of the Gansu Federation of Literary and Art Circles; Wang Laiwen, Vice Chairman of the Fujian Federation of Literary and Art Circles and Vice Chairman of the China Artists Association; Wang Chunmei, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Theatre Association; Wang Binmei, President of Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe; Cai Zhefei, Vice President of the troupe; Li Qiang, General Manager of Nouvelles d’Europe’s UK Bureau; Yao Yi, Artistic Director of the China–UK International Music Festival; and Frank Zielhorst, Head of Music at Queen Mary University of London.
At the ceremony, Li Liyan and Xie Li delivered speeches in turn, while Wang Binmei, President of Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe, introduced the highlights of the troupe’s London performances.
The tour brought together a stellar lineup from the Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe, led by renowned Plum Blossom Award winners Cai Zhefei and Zhang Yiqing. They were joined on stage by national first-class performers Wei Chunfang, Li Xiaowen, and Xu Yena. Also performing were outstanding young actress Chen Lijun and rising talents Xie Chan, Xia Yiyi, Zheng Xiao, and Xu Hong.
Audiences were treated to a series of timeless excerpts from the Yue Opera repertoire. This included: The Butterfly Lovers: Farewell at the Pavilion; Dream of the Red Chamber: The Burial of Flowers; The Peony Pavilion: The Secret Rendezvous; and Lu You and Tang Wan: Inscribed on the Wall.
Beyond the stage, the troupe also captivated London with a series of vibrant cultural activities. Flash mob performances at Tower Bridge and Big Ben drew much attention, as actors in full costume brought timeless scenes of Chinese opera to life, stopping passers-by in their tracks.
At the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), a workshop on ‘Presenting Traditional Theatre in the Contemporary Museum Context’ was held. Harriet Reed, Researcher in the Theatre and Performance Department, and Zhang Hongxing, Senior Curator in the Asia Department, introduced the V&A’s collections and conservation of theatrical costumes, as well as the museum’s broader curatorial practices. Scholars and practitioners from both China and the UK engaged in deep discussions on the preservation, transmission, and study of traditional theatre.
At Queen Mary University of London, a round-table titled ‘Resonating with Youth: How Traditional Chinese Opera and Western Opera Can Speak to Generation Z’ brought together six experts from China and the UK. Among them were Plum Blossom Award winners Cai Zhefei and Zhang Yiqing, young actress Xie Chan, Frank Zielhorst, Head of Music at Queen Mary University of London, Kyra Wazlawik, Director of the Centre for the Study of Childhood Culture, and Emma Taylor, Artistic Director of the Canal Café Theatre. The participants explored innovative ways for traditional opera, both Chinese and Western, to reach younger audiences. The consensus was that while China and the UK each have distinct strengths in promoting traditional arts, dialogue and exchange can open new pathways for cultural inheritance and cooperation.
Through Yue Opera as a window, the Magnificent Opera, Connecting Hearts through Art UK tour by the Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe showcased the elegance and refinement of a thousand-year-old Chinese theatrical tradition. It conveyed the unique appeal of China’s performing arts to international audiences and wrote a new chapter in the promotion of Chinese traditional culture on the global stage.
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