From now through June, the 6th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Chinese Theater Cultural Festival will run in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macao, featuring a lineup of theatrical productions.

Shenzhen

Three Hong Kong and Macao plays will be staged at the Pingshan Theater. The Hong Kong Repertory Theatre will present “The Emperor, His Mom, a Eunuch and a Man” on April 24-26. Written by Poon Wai-sum and directed by veteran director Roy Szeto, the classic drama features a reimagined tale of historical intrigue involving a Qing Dynasty eunuch. The production received 11 nominations and won six awards at the 23rd Hong Kong Drama Awards.

A scene from “The Emperor, His Mom, a Eunuch and a Man.” Photos from the show organizers

Macao’s Hiu Kok Drama Association will stage “Hide and Seek” on May 30, a play by Lei I Leong who won the 26th Cao Yu Drama Literature Award. Through a cross-cultural lens, it explores family bonds and human nature. Meanwhile, Frost Ice Snow Creative Experimental Theater of Macao will present a children’s physical theater show on May 2-3, using humor to deliver heartfelt messages about growth.

Booking: WeChat account “PingShanTheatre”

Venue: Pingshan Theater, Pingshan District (坪山大剧院)

Metro: Line 14 to Pingshan Square Station (坪山广场站), Exit D1

SkyShuttle: Line 1 to Culture Center Station (文化聚落站), Exit A

A scene from “Hide and Seek.”

Hong Kong

At the Xiqu Center in the West Kowloon Cultural District, the Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe will stage its all-female production of “Su Dongpo” on April 24-26, starring Mao Weitao — a three-time recipient of the China Theater Plum Blossom Award. Written by He Jiping and directed by Roy Szeto, the performances will be accompanied by Chinese and English surtitles.

Zhejiang Taizhou Luantan Opera Troupe will present “A Master Selection of Taizhou Luantan Opera Excerpts” on April 22-23, also with Chinese and English surtitles. In addition, the Guangzhou Cantonese Opera Troupe will present Cantonese opera excerpts on April 25-26.

A scene from “Su Dongpo.”

Guangzhou

Guangzhou will host the premiere of “Judge Song Ci,” a Cantonese opera combining crime suspense with patriotic themes, at the Guangdong Cantonese Opera Arts Center on June 5-6.

Macao

Macao will close the festival with The Nine’s play “Her Dynasty” on June 25-26, followed by the Shanghai Huai Opera Troupe’s musical “Seeing Words as Face” on June 26-27 at the Macao Cultural Center. Marking a historic first, Taiwan’s Forest Theater Troupe will also join the festival with its original musical “Nora” on June 27-28. A youth dialogue event on opera and theater will also be held in Macao to discuss the future of performing arts in the GBA.

A scene from “Her Dynasty.”

Since the festival was launched in Macao in 2020, it has grown into a major cultural brand across the GBA. At a promotional conference held on April 10 at the Pingshan Theater, the China Theater Association and the Pingshan District Bureau of Culture, Media, Tourism and Sports signed a memorandum of understanding to bring the Shenzhen leg of the festival to Pingshan for the sixth to eighth editions. The partnership aims to build a high-level platform for regional theatrical exchange, fostering collaboration in productions, talent development, and resource sharing.