Historical venue reopens with new Peking Opera shows

Huguosi Street used to be one of Beijing's busiest commercial avenues in the olden days.

It was also the location of the former residence of Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang (1894-1961).

Not far from Mei's residence, the first theater for Peking Opera performances came up in 1954, five years after the founding of the People's Republic of China.

The neighborhood has changed over the decades, but the theater — Beijing People's Theater, where Mei and many other Peking Opera masters used to perform, still stands tall.

On Oct 9, the National Peking Opera Company, which runs the theater now, announced that the renovation of Beijing People's Theater has been finished. On Oct 16, the theater, which has a capacity of about 550 seats, will reopen to the public with a series of Peking Opera shows.

According to Wang Yong, president of the National Peking Opera Company, the theater opened in January 1955 and Mei served as its first president.

From Oct 16, 15 Peking Opera productions will be staged in the theater. Within a month, the event will see Peking Opera companies from around the country to perform there.

Top Graduate Zhang Xie, so far the earliest known complete Chinese play script written during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), will be staged by the National Peking Opera Company on Oct 16.

Other highlights include Moliere's classic play, The Miser, adapted by the Jingju Theater Company of Beijing, and Shanghai Peking Opera Company's take on The Cop And The Anthem by writer O. Henry.

During the event, about 20 programs will showcase the history of culture of Peking Opera to the public.