Kunqu Opera at Edinburgh Festival 2025: Ancient Chinese Art Captivates Global Audience

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Experience the breathtaking performances of the Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre at the Edinburgh Festival 2025, featuring UNESCO-recognized traditional Chinese opera.

Highlights include:
• Experimental Kunqu adaptation "The Story of the Stone" based on Dream of Red Mansions
• Classical excerpts from "The Peony Pavilion" performed by Plum Blossom Award winner Wei Chunrong
• Historic moment as Wei Chunrong becomes first Chinese opera performer to receive Edinburgh Festival's "Asian Arts Ambassador" award
• Young performers honored as "Global Youth Ambassadors for Kunqu Promotion"
• Cross-cultural performances bringing 600-year-old Chinese theatrical tradition to international audiences

Kunqu Opera, dating back approximately 600 years, is one of China's oldest existing forms of drama and is included in UNESCO's official list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre, established in 1957, is one of the leading ambassadors of this ancient art form.

These performances showcase how traditional Chinese aesthetics dialogue with contemporary themes, featuring stylized movement, traditional vocals, colorful costumes, and symbolic makeup. All performances include English surtitles for international audiences.

Discover how one table and one chair can present an entire poetic universe, as Kunqu's minimalist aesthetic opens a window to classical Chinese beauty and philosophy.