Variety show brings audience to old Shanghai
“ShangHIGH Dream” takes audience on a journey with office worker Mr Shang.
An original production by Shanghai Great World intends to take audiences on a nostalgic trip back to the early years of the metropolis.
“ShangHIGH Dream,” created by the venue’s own artistic troupe, combines music, dance, acrobatics, traditional opera and sand painting, on a journey with office worker Mr Shang, who travels back in time to visit old Shanghai.
On his trip, Shang visits the Paramount entertainment center in 1940, the movie studios in the 1950s and the stock exchange in the 1990s. The 70-minute show manages to capture the change in Shanghai residents’ daily lives and the city’s integrative culture.
“By the end of the time travel, I hope the audiences will be more emotionally attached to the city,” said director Jin Shichang. “I didn’t use much dialogue in the show, so the performers have to give full play to their body language, to interact with the audiences from the stage and get them involved.”
The show presents old Shanghai scenes like the Paramount entertainment center in 1940 and the stock exchange in the 1990s.
In the 1930s, The Great World, a blend of Western and Chinese architectural styles, was a popular weekend destination for families. It used to stage opera and acrobatic shows and screen the latest Hollywood movies.
The site was closed in 2003 for restoration and reopened in 2017. It has become a landmark site for visitors to enjoy local folk arts and the original 12 distortion mirrors are still a big attraction today. The stage is set in a half-open air space in the very center of the site, giving audiences an immersive experience.
Performance info
Date: September 30-October 3, October 10-11, October 23-25, November 6-8, November 13-15; 7pm and 8:45pm
Tickets: 180-280 yuan
Venue: Shanghai Great World
Address: 1 Xizang Road S.
