Liu Cixin's 'The Dark Forest' to premiere in Shanghai

“The Dark Forest,” part two of Liu Cixin’s international best-seller “The Three-Body Problem,” has been adapted into a stage show and will premiere in Shanghai this month.

The production company revealed earlier that it will use a more international crew than “Remembrance of the Earth’s Past,” the company’s first try to put Liu’s wild imaginations and hardcore science on stage.

Part one was adapted and premiered in 2016, following two more rounds in more than 20 cities across the country, impressing many for its efforts to present space-age astrophysics on stage through technology such as 3D mapping, drones and multi-media projections, amidst other facilities. It was a commercial success and scored 6.5 out of 10 on Chinese movie review site Douban.

While the first book features memories of the past, part two poses more challenges, as the story evolves into future and space, involving more compelling scenes like the battle of water drop, making it more demanding to be realized on stage.

French theater director and choreographer Philippe Decoufle, whose works for Cirque du Soleil has well combined performance and technology, is the director of the 3D sci-fi “The Dark Forest.”

The special effects, which impressed many audiences last time, are intended to be more mind-blowing this time. It will be produced by Polish company Platige Image, whose notable works include special effects for “Final Fantasy V.”

“I went to Poland for their own show, for which we wear 3D glasses and you see the combination of 3D visuals and on-stage performances,” the show’s producer Lotus Lee explained how she explored options for special effects and located the company.

Date: April 12-21

Tickets: 80-580 yuan

Tel: 6472-9000, 6472-6000

Venue: SAIC Shanghai Culture Square

Address: 597 Fuxing Rd M.