江蘇省演藝集團崑劇院【中華文化節2026】

About the show

A dream leads into the Southern Branch, where all glory is but an illusion. The Jiangsu Performing Arts Group Kunqu Opera Theatre (江蘇省演藝集團崑劇院) has masterfully adapted Tang Xianzu's *The Story of the Southern Branch* into a two-part production, *Dream of the Southern Branch*. Chunyu Fen dreams his way into the kingdom of ants, experiencing the rise and fall of power, the birth and death of love, and fleeting splendour, only to awaken and realise that life itself is emptiness. The entire work blends classical elegance with contemporary concepts, with graceful lyrics and melodies, distant arias, and dreamlike, beautiful lighting, guiding the audience into a profound inquiry into power, desire, and illusion. This is a programme of the Chinese Culture Festival 2026, curated by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (康樂及文化事務署), performed by the Jiangsu Performing Arts Group Kunqu Opera Theatre (江蘇省演藝集團崑劇院), and meticulously divided into two parts to present the complete narrative arc. Leading the cast is Shi Xiaming (施夏明), a recipient of the Chinese Theatre Plum Blossom Award, alongside outstanding performers from the theatre's fourth and fifth generations, showcasing a fusion of heritage and innovation. It is a rare opportunity to appreciate the intersection of Kunqu classics and contemporary stage aesthetics.

Synopsis translated by KinoHK — the performance itself is not in English unless stated above.