China has announced its plans for a new £190 million theatre and production facility intended to stimulate musical theatre in the country and “localise the Western art form”. The 2 Billion Yuan, 95,000 square-metre complex is being funded by local authorities and production company Ovation Cultural Development in Langfang, which is 74 kilometres from Beijing. It is scheduled to open in 2017 with a Mandarin version of Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods.
In 2011, hit musical Mamma Mia! was the first Western musical to tour in China, in a version tailored to local audiences rather than presenting the West End/Broadway version. It was followed by a Mandarin adaptation of Cats in 2012, and in March this year, three original Chinese musicals – including a version of Jane Eyre – were premiered in Shanghai. Mandarin audiences are gradually gaining more access to the Western art form of musical theatre, which in turn gives musical theatre much more exposure within that particular culture.
The initiative aims to capitalise on growing interest in musical theatre in China, as the China Daily newspaper reports a 40% growth in audiences for musicals between 2012 and 2013 to more than one million. Revenue from musical productions grew by a fifth during the same period to over 230 Million Yuan (£22 Million). It is clear that that the musical market in China is very promising. Musicals Mamma Mia! and Cats made a great step to introduce musicals in Chinese to audiences who may not have the chance to see them.
While the singing remains in the Mandarin remit, every other element of the productions are carried out in a Western way through Western production companies, costumes and body language included.