History finds new voice on stage

In September, the musical The Message, produced by Chinese musical theater actor Ayunga, premiered in Shanghai. Adapted from Mai Jia's 2007 novel of the same name, the production tells the story of Communist Party of China intelligence agents during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).

On Oct 1, National Day, I went to the theater to see The Message. When the final song, Qing Shan Shang (On the Green Mountain), began, tears streamed down my face. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in both the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and that sense of historical weight hung heavily in the air.

For people of my generation, that period lives mostly in textbooks or in grainy black-and-white footage. Yet on stage, it suddenly felt close — not through sweeping narration or moral messaging, but through the trembling bow of a violin and coded signals exchanged in silence. Those once-distant acts of courage became vivid, immediate, almost tangible.

As a theater enthusiast, I have watched original Chinese musicals grow rapidly, evolving from a niche stage form into a vibrant part of youth culture. According to the 2024 Musical Theater Market Report, people aged 25 to 34 now account for 42.9 percent of the audience. The data shows how deeply the aesthetics and themes of musical theater resonate with the lifestyles and interests of the younger generation.

This growing popularity among young audiences is mirrored by a surge of young creators dedicating themselves to reshaping the future of Chinese musicals. For many of them, the first encounter with the genre came through Western classics like Les Miserables — as it did for me. But today, Chinese musicals are no longer confined to imitating imported works. Grand productions such as The Message are boldly setting new artistic standards, while countless young creators in small theaters across the country are taking root in everyday life, telling stories with distinctly contemporary Chinese characteristics.

Among my theater-loving friends, many say that what moves them most is not just the music or the stagecraft, but the sense of presence and emotional immersion that musical theater uniquely offers. These performances allow young audiences to see their own uncertainties, aspirations, and struggles reflected on stage — often in intimate and deeply relatable ways.

Stepping out of the theater that National Day evening, I felt the final strains of music still lingering in my mind. The wind along the street seemed to be rehearsing a future symphony, carrying the weight of history while quietly inviting our generation to listen closely- to sense what may soon unfold.

Written by Yin Yue, a 26-year-old English teacher at Jiangsu Xishan Senior High School in Jiangsu province. She is a theater enthusiast with a passion for plays and musicals, and has watched more than 100 productions.