A top‑tier Huangmei Opera feast is coming! From this Saturday (December 20) through January 9, 2026 — a full twenty days — Anhui Zaifen Huangmei Art Theatre will present twenty signature productions back‑to‑back in Anqing City, Anhui Province. This isn't a routine run: it's the theatre's hard‑earned showcase after two decades of work. Classics, original hits, and bold adaptations are all on the bill — the lineup is stellar.

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Anhui Zaifen Huangmei Art Theatre has planned a series of anniversary events under the theme "People Become Plays, Everyone Becomes a Lead."

At the press conference for Zaifen Huangmei's "20th Anniversary · Twenty Productions" showcase, organizers said the large‑scale program selects twenty representative and landmark works created, curated, or staged by the theatre over the past two decades. The repertoire spans contemporary and modern themes, original hits, classic adaptations, and revolutionary pieces, collectively tracing and presenting the theatre's artistic development and achievements.

Performances will primarily take place at the Zaifen Huangmei Mansion in Anqing and the Anqing Huangmei Opera Art Center Grand Theatre, serving local residents while welcoming audiences from across China.

The twenty productions are grouped into three categories for fans to pick from according to their preferences:

"Epic Classic" series: must‑see Huangmei classics — the three old staples "The Female Consort Prince," "The Heavenly Match," and "The Handkerchief," plus "The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl" and "Xiao Ci Dian." Authentic and timeless.

"Award‑Winning" series: the theatre's golden signatures. Examples include "Huizhou Women" and "Huizhou Past" exploring the fate of women in Huizhou; the stirring red‑themed "Immortal Jiaoyang"; hometown tributes like "Deng Jiaxian" and "Yannian and Qiaonian"; the modern Huangmei play "The Company," which promotes integrity; and "Liuchixiang: Kuan," highlighting harmony and courtesy. Many of these works have won national awards.

"Cross‑Boundary Adaptation" series: stage adaptations of Lu Xun's "Blessing" and "Kong Yiji," Zhang Henshui's "The Story of a Noble Family," and even Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" — watch how traditional opera handles Chinese and foreign literary classics.

At the press conference, when asked about the core values that have sustained the theatre for twenty years, Zaifen Huangmei's director Han Zaifen replied warmly: "Passion, perseverance, gratitude." Passion for the art itself, perseverance in rooting the theatre in Anqing, and gratitude to all audiences. "These twenty productions condense Zaifen Huangmei's two decades of artistic accumulation and exploration; they are our sincere gift to the audience and our cultural answer to this era," Director Han said.

Source: anhuinews.com