Chinese Culture Festival 2026 Opening Programme: Dance Drama Lady White Snake by Shanghai Grand Theatre

✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡˚ Be Real Be You ✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡˚ 

 ‘The expert dancing, combined with the unusual telling of a timely story, prove to be lyrical, stirring, and deeply human.’ 
Stage and Cinema

Synchronising the fluidity of ballet with the delicacy of Chinese dance, dance drama Lady White Snake constructs two spaces of the real and mental world, giving new vitality to the legendary tale. Under the artistic direction of renowned international ballet star Tan YuanYuan, the production transforms the thousand-year-old story into a spiritual exploration of a woman’s journey of self-discovery. Lady White, Xu Xian and Fa Hai in the original story are reinterpreted as the modern wife, husband and psychotherapist respectively, while Xiao Qing (Green Snake) embodies the untamed id in pursuit of selfhood. The innovative stage design blends oriental aesthetics with new technology, breathing new life into this compelling tale through a global lens.

Synopsis

A happily married wife has recently been dreaming every night of a green snake that relentlessly entangles her. Fear begins to take hold, and her husband takes her to seek medical help. Under hypnosis guided by a psychologist, the layers of her dreams are gradually unveiled. What unfolds alongside them is the illusion of her “happiness” and her unyielding pursuit of a life on her own terms…

The running time of each performance is approximately 2 hours including an intermission of 20 minutes. 

Members of the audience are strongly advised to arrive punctually. Latecomers and those who leave their seats during the performance will only be admitted and allowed to return to their seats respectively during the intermission or at a suitable break. The presenter reserves the right to refuse admission of latecomers, or determine the time and manner of admission of latecomers.

The presenter reserves the right to change the programme and substitute artists / instructors.

The content of programme does not represent the views of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. 

Produced by
Shanghai Grand Theatre 

Shanghai Grand Theatre is the first world-class international theatre in the Chinese Mainland. Since its inauguration in 1998, it has played a leading role in presenting international and local productions and in promoting cultural exchange and arts education. Under its corporate banner, the Shanghai Grand Theatre Creation Centre was established in 2022, serving as a platform for high quality original productions. It has since developed a diverse range of works, including the Kunqu operas Six Chapters of a Floating Life and The Peony Pavilion, and the dance drama Lady White Snake as part of its 'Oriental Stage Aesthetics Series', alongside commercial musicals. These productions integrate Chinese aesthetics into contemporary expression and international narratives, further expanding the Centre's possibilities in creative development and content production.

Performed by
Shanghai Opera House Dance Ensemble 

Shanghai Opera House Dance Ensemble is a renowned professional dance company in the Chinese Mainland. With more than half a century of artistic practice, it has contributed significantly to the evolution of Chinese dance drama and established a rich and enduring repertoire.  Among them, dance drama Dagger Society is regarded as one of the foundation works. In addition, a large number of outstanding and influential dance dramas, such as Lotus Lantern, Banping Mountain, In the Shadow of the Moon, Phoenix in the Qi Mountain have nurtured many distinguished choreographers such as Li Zhonglin and Shu Qiao, and artists such as Zhou Jie and Zhang Yuzhao.

Artistic Director : Tan YuanYuan

Director : Zhou Ke

Choreographer : Wang Peixian

Music : Xu Zhong

Playwright : Luo Zhou

Set Designer : Gao Guangjian

Lighting and Projection Designer : Xiao Lihe

Video Designer : Feng Jiangzhou

Costume Designer : Viola Zhang

Performed by : 

'Moon' Cast (12/6)
Ao Dingwen as Wife / Lady White
Wu Husheng as Husband / Xu Xian
Tan Yimei as Xiao Qing
Song Yu as Psychologist / Fa Hai

'Luck' Cast (13/6)
Liu Sirui as Wife / Lady White
Sun Jiayong as Husband / Xu Xian
Wang Nianci as Xiao Qing
Su Hailu as Psychologist / Fa Hai

with Shanghai Opera House Dance Ensemble 

Artistic Director Tan YuanYuan and main casts / creative team share their creative journey.

Speakers: Tan YuanYuan with main cast / creative team

Date: 10 June 2026 (Wed)

Time: 7:30pm

Venue: AC1, Level 4, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre 

In Putonghua

The talk will last for about 1 hour and 30 minutes

Free admission. Limited seats available on a first-come, first-served basis by online registration from 10 am on 14 April.

Artistic Director Tan YuanYuan will explain how to apply modern sensibility to a classic legend through leading a masterclass for students from the School of Dance of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), followed by a sharing session with the audience.

Instructor: Tan YuanYuan

Date: 11 June 2026 (Thu)

Time: 2:30pm

Venue: Dance Studio 1, HKAPA

In Putonghua

The masterclass will last for about 1 hour and 30 minutes

Observers are welcome by registration

Free admission. Limited seats available on a first-come, first-served basis by online registration from 10 am on 14 April.

Co-organised by The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts 

Lady White Snake’s movements and techniques fully embodies unique intelligence and elegance of classical Chinese dance. By learning from dancers of the Shanghai Opera House Dance Ensemble, participants will experience in close range the charm of contemporary Chinese dance.

Date: 13 June 2026 (Sat)

Time: 10:30am

Venue: Podium Workshop, Hong Kong Cultural Centre (Take the elevators at Administration Building to Podium)

Ticket Price: $220

In Putonghua

The workshop will last for about 1 hour and 30 minutes

Suitable for those aged 16 or above with some dance experience

Please dress casually and wear dancing shoes

Chinese Culture Festival 2026 Opening Programme: Dance Drama Lady White Snake by Shanghai Grand Theatre

DATE

VENUE

PRICE

12.06.2026 (Fri) - 13.06.2026 (Sat)
19:30

Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre

$620, $520, $400, $300, $220

13.06.2026 (Sat)
10:30

Dance Workshop: Podium Workshop, Hong Kong Cultural Centre

$220

DATE

12.06.2026 (Fri) - 13.06.2026 (Sat)
19:30

VENUE

Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre

PRICE

$620, $520, $400, $300, $220

DATE

13.06.2026 (Sat)
10:30

VENUE

Dance Workshop: Podium Workshop, Hong Kong Cultural Centre

PRICE

$220

Tickets of performances and dance workshop are available from 14 April at all URBTIX outlets, self-service ticketing kiosks, on internet, by mobile app and telephone. 

Half-price tickets are available for full-time students, senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and the minder and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients. Tickets for CSSA recipients are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Concessionary ticket holders must produce evidence of their identity or age upon admission.

Chinese Culture Festival 2026 Discount Scheme 

Exclusive Offer to Museum Pass Holders #^

Museum Pass Holders can enjoy 10% off discount for each purchase of 1 or more standard ticket.
This discount is available for purchases at URBTIX outlets only. Please present a valid physical or electronic Museum Pass upon purchase.

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# Only applicable to tickets for stage programmes, Chinese Opera Festival 2026: Chinese Opera Film Shows and Legacy and Vision: Conversations with Chinese Cultural Masters. Discount is only available for tickets for Musical Pan Yu Lin by Actors’ Family and Children Arts Tech Music Theatre 5 Elements East West by Zuni Icosahedron purchased through URBTIX on a first-come, first-served basis.

^ Discount is not applicable to ticket purchases of the following programmes: International Arts Carnival 2026: Nanyin Theatre Siu Hei’s Musical Journey: Poetry in Nanyin by One Table Two Chairs Charitable Foundation, Grand Dance Poem In Between — Wu Guanzhong’s Ink Odyssey by Hong Kong Dance Company, The Diary of Song 2026 by Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, Realising Art in Social Realism: The Miracle of Union Film, Journeys to the West: Cinematic Dialogues Across Time, Gems of Chinese Opera Film and 2026 ‘Music-Get-Together’ Music Office Trainees’ Concerts — Chinese Music.

Patrons can enjoy only one of the above discount offers for each ticket purchased.  Please inform the box office staff at the time of purchase.

For more discount details of Chinese Culture Festival 2026, please visit the website of Chinese Culture Festival

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