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Audiences interact with actors of Dreaming Back to Grand View Garden in Shengzhou county-level city of Shaoxing, Zhejiang province. [Photo provided by Shengzhou Yue Opera Art School]

The Shengzhou Yue Opera Art School has launched an immersive Yueju Opera performance titled Dreaming Back to Grand View Garden, staged every Friday evening on the school campus in Shengzhou, a county-level city in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province.

The show has become a popular cultural destination among local residents and visitors.

Integrating traditional Yueju Opera with landscaped gardens, cinematic techniques, and modern lighting, the performance unfolds in three acts: Entry into the Dream, Dream Interrupted, and Awakening.

The first act introduces characters such as Granny Liu, who greets audience members at the school gate with steamed buns and guides them through the gardens. Spectators stroll through real-life scenery while encountering performers along the way.

According to Xia Shuguang, deputy director of the school's research office and the performance director, this interactive approach helps immerse the audience in the story and familiarize them with the characters.

The final act, Awakening, blends traditional Yueju vocals with modern dance. Audience members are encouraged to interact freely with performers, enjoy a cultural and creative fair, and try on traditional costumes for photos in the garden setting.

Vice-Principal Tu Fuwei noted that the project aims to make Yueju Opera more accessible to young people and turn it into a participatory lifestyle.