The 1st Zhuhai Art Festival, comprising performances of music, dance, drama, opera, Chinese opera, and acrobatics, will open at both Zhuhai Opera House and Huafa & CPAA Grand Theater on Thursday, Sept 30 and runs to Wednesday, Oct 27.

Zhuhai Song & Dance Troupe begins the festival with Story of Zhuhai that portrays the city's marine and special economic zone culture. The original modern Cantonese Opera Daybreak of Guangdong depicts the struggle between revolutionaries' families and faith, and their indomitable spirit.

Zhuhai Song & Dance Troupe presents Story of Zhuhai [Photo courtesy Guanhai App]

Dragon Spanning Lingding Sea, a realistic drama extolling builders of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge will be staged by Zhuhai Opera Troupe. The play took first prize at the 14th Guangdong Arts Festival. The second-prize winner, Music From the Greater Bay Area, will be performed by Zhuhai National Orchestra.

In addition to local creations, the festival will feature the winner of 2012 Chinese Golden Lion Award for Dramas – the Yellow Storm by National Theater of China, Kylin Purse by National Peking Opera Company, Guangdong Arts Festival first-prize winner – My Motherland by Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, and Butterfly Lovers by Guangzhou Acrobatic Arts Theater. 

Guangdong Provincial Theater will perform the original drama Deep Sea, which tells the story of Huang Xuhua, chief designer of China's first generation of nuclear submarines, and recipient of the Medal of the Republic.

Outstanding domestic films will be screened at Zhuhai Museum, Xiangwan and Jinding civic art centers, Jinwan District Library, and Jinwan Cultural Center.

The festival is organized by Zhuhai Performing Arts Group under auspices of the Publicity Department of the CPC Zhuhai Municipal Committee and Zhuhai Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism & Sports Bureau.