The New Butterfly Lovers

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The Butterfly Lovers is a classic Chinese legend with countless stage and screen adaptations. Adding to its enduring legacy is an award-winning production by the Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe that retells the tragic romance with a modern sensibility.

Premiering in 2006 as part of the centennial celebration of Yue opera after seven years of development, The New Butterfly Lovers takes inspiration from the traditional production while adding new materials to strengthen character arcs and the plotline. It also features brand new music, lighting, set and costumes designs, and inventively employs folding fans to represent fluttering butterflies, which heightens the visual and emotional impact of the protagonists’ final transformation.

The two performances each features a different cast, showcasing two generations of xiqu talent. The first one stars the troupe’s top young artists Chen Lijun and Li Yunxiao, and the second one is headlined by National Class One Performer Wei Chunfang and the China Theatre Plum Blossom Award winner Zhang Yiqing.

During the second performance, Mao Weitao, a three-time winner of the China Theatre Plum Blossom Award, will make a special appearance onstage in the final scenes, giving the audience a great opportunity to enjoy the renowned artist’s finesse and charm.

This programme is co-presented by the China Theatre Association and WestK, and is part of the 5th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Chinese Theatre Cultural Festival.

In addition to The New Butterfly Lovers, the Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe will present two other productions: Su Shi and Birthday Celebration by Five Daughters.

30 April 2025 (Wednesday) – 7:30pm

1 May 2025 (Thursday) – 2:30pm 

Approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, without intermission