Running through the National Day holidays from October 1 to 7, the large Huaiju Opera-inspired immersive show Xiaozhen yYouxi (lit: luck in a small town) is held in Yancheng, East China's Jiangsu Province. Photos: Courtesy of Wang Chang

A large diverse immersive show Xiaozhen Youxi (lit: luck in a small town) was held in Yancheng, East China's Jiangsu Province, during the National Day Holidays from October 1 to 7.

Based on the traditional Chinese Huaiju Opera known as Small Town, the play arranges nine different performances that tell the story of a small town in Yancheng and its surrounding wetlands, which are perfectly integrated into the show through high technology.

The show tells the story of an old entrepreneur who comes to the 1,000-year-old town famous for his morality. He offers a reward of 5 million yuan ($700,000) to find the benefactor who once saved his life many years ago. However, the reward is like a touchstone challenging the morality and conscience of the residents in this little town.

Another highlight of the show is how it integrates digital technology and the local traditional culture. 

Running through the National Day holidays from October 1 to 7, the large Huaiju Opera-inspired immersive show Xiaozhen yYouxi (lit: luck in a small town) is held in Yancheng, East China's Jiangsu Province. Photos: Courtesy of Wang Chang

The immersive experience used high-tech stage dressing to create a feeling of "walking inside a picture" for audiences as it presented them with different views and experiences as they walked around the stage. 

The stage also established a specific space for audiences to interact with the actors, who performed traditional skills such as bianlian (face changing).

According to the show's chief directors Gao Yan and Meng Ke, the nine major performances are all connected by the theme "luck" and each performance displayed a unique Huaiju Opera skill to audiences.

"The performance focuses on bringing the excellent traditional Chinese culture hidden within Huaiju Opera to the fore. Through these interactive performances, we also hope to bring positive energy to audiences who come to see our show," Gao Yan, director of the show, told media.

Also known as Jianghuai Play, Huaiju Opera is one of the major operas in Jiangsu Province. It rose to popularity in Jiangsu and around the Shanghai area about 100 years ago. 

The city of Huai'an, the birthplace of this art form, currently boasts four professional Huaiju Opera troupes.

Global Times

Running through the National Day holidays from October 1 to 7, the large Huaiju Opera-inspired immersive show Xiaozhen yYouxi (lit: luck in a small town) is held in Yancheng, East China's Jiangsu Province. Photos: Courtesy of Wang Chang