Black Box Chinese Opera Festival 2025: Farewell My Concubine

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Farewell My Concubine (New Adaptation) premiered in 2017 as the Xiqu Centre’s first commissioned work. The award-winning production has been staged multiple times to rave reviews and critical acclaim. Blending traditional Cantonese opera techniques with contemporary stage and lighting design, this groundbreaking adaptation of a Peking opera classic reinterprets the legendary story of the downfall of Xiang Yu, the self-proclaimed “Overlord of Western Chu”.

Told from the perspective of warlord Xiang Yu, the 70-minute production reimagines the last moments of a hero caught between reality and illusion. From the siege and defeat of his troops, to his separation from his lover and subsequent suicide, we follow the hero as he descends into isolation and despair.

Throughout the performance, innovative manipulation of modern and traditional music and lighting, interaction between actors and musicians, and flamboyant battle scenes create a heightened sense of time and emotion and immerse the audience in a spectacular experience.

Regional languages with Chinese and English surtitles.

ABOUT THE ARTIST / ORGANISER

The annual Black Box Chinese Opera Festival presents original productions offering new perspectives on a heritage art form. Devised and adapted for the modern stage, each work showcases bold experimentation and a contemporary sensibility through a range of regional genres and styles. This year’s programme features the Xiqu Centre’s three award-winning Cantonese opera productions – Farewell My Concubine (New Adaptation), Wenguang Explores the Valley and The Imperial Decree – along with two acclaimed Kunqu operas, Qingshan Embrace Me by the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe and The Burning Painting by the Yangju Opera Institute of Yangzhou and Jiangsu Drama and Literature Creation Institute.