Puppet show Bao'er is performed during the Golden Dolphin International Puppet Festival in Bulgaria. [Photo/WeChat account: ntwgx6]

The puppet show Bao'er, co-produced by a Shenzhen cultural company and Oh! Castle Festival in Topu, recently completed its international premiere at the Golden Dolphin International Puppet Festival in Bulgaria.

Bao'er is based on the classic picture book, adapted from Jia'er, a story from Pu Songling's Liaozhai Zhiyi (Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio) from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The play explores the core of traditional Chinese culture, blending paper cutting, shadow puppetry, puppetry, and traditional Chinese opera to create a stage full of Eastern ambiance.

The universal themes of self-identity, love and courage in Bao'er transcend artistic and cultural boundaries, resonating with global audiences' understanding of growth and resilience.

The international premiere marks a crucial step in entering the international market. Using the deep collaboration between the Oh! Castle Festival in Topu in Haimen district, Nantong, and the Golden Dolphin International Puppet Festival, it has set a replicable model for future productions to go abroad.

The Oh! Castle Festival in Topu is building a creative platform that connects international perspectives with local aesthetic education through artists' onsite creation and exchanges.

In the future, Haimen is set to continue emphasizing the core role of original art in the development of urban culture, supporting more works with local characteristics and Chinese spirit to reach broader stages.