SPH to bring The Golden Lotus drama to Singapore

Performances on June 22 and 23.

Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) announced that the dance drama The Golden Lotus, adapted from the famous Chinese literary classic of the same name, will make its debut in Singapore.

Lianhe Wanbao, the Chinese evening daily of SPH, in celebration of its 30th anniversary, will jointly present The Golden Lotus with Scorpio East Productions. The Golden Lotus will be performed by the renowned Beijing Dance Theater at the Esplanade Theatre on 22 and 23 June.

The story of The Golden Lotus is set in the household of Ximen Qing, the corrupt and lustful merchant who lives in the Ming Dynasty. It chronicles the decadence that takes place among the adulterous protagonist and the three main female characters Pan Jinlian, Li Ping'er and Pang Chunmei.

Although the story was written in the 16th century, the theme of the novel, which is its relentless pursuit of desires and ambition, still resonates in the modern world. Generations of readers have recognised the sophisticated literary techniques and dramatic role of eroticism in the novel, which has gained notoriety over the centuries for its explicit depiction of sexuality.

Founded in 2008 by choreographer Wang Yuanyuan, Beijing Dance Theater has created several original dance works for the world stage. In just a span of five years, the group has produced no less than 10 highly acclaimed works including Stirred from a Dream, Haze and The Color of Love, which have been staged around the globe.

Wang Yuanyuan is the first choreographer from China to have won Best Choreographer four times internationally. She has choreographed the ballet version of Raise the Red Lantern for film director Zhang Yimou and the dance sequences for Tan Dun's music in the film The Banquet for director Feng Xiaogang.

Mr Lim Huan Chiang, Vice President of Cultural Industry Promotion, Chinese Newspapers Division, said: “SPH's Chinese Newspapers Division has always been actively promoting Chinese culture in Singapore. Previously, we have presented several major Chinese musical productions such as Immortality, A Tale of Shaolin, Journey to the West, Thousand-Hand Bodhisattva and Hello Nasirdin Apandim. The most recent production Opera Warriors was also well-received by the Singapore audiences. We are confident that Singaporeans will be captivated by The Golden Lotus, which is a visual treat with its breathtaking dance performances and sensuality.”