Peter Pan offers 'immersive' theater experience

Actor Tong Dawei (right second) alongside his wife Guan Yue (right) share his views of Peter Pan with Zhong Lifang (left second), president of China Broadway Entertainment Holding Ltd. [Photo provided to China Daily]

At the Xiedao Resort in northern Beijing, audience members join the actors making them a part of the play.

A promotional event for Peter Pan, a 100-minute play which provides an "immersive theater" experience, was held on June 3 to mark the launch of its tour in China.

The show, produced by the Beijing-based China Broadway Entertainment Holding Ltd, debuted in December and has so far been watched by more than 20,000 people.

To reach a bigger viewership, Zhong Lifang, the president of China Broadway, says more shows will be staged in Beijing and in Wuhan, in Hubei province, besides other cities.

The show is financed by a Chinese company, but the creative team is from Broadway.

The team includes Randy Weiner, the director of American Repertory Theater, the award-winning director Allegra Libonati, David Gallo, a Tony Award winner for design and choreographer Paul Rubin.

Chinese actor Tong Dawei and his wife, Guan Yue, were at the Saturday event.

"My children ran with the actors and followed them. I had to walk almost 3 kilometers with my children. The play not only delighted them, but was like physical training," says the actor, a father of three.

Meanwhile, Zhong says that the immersive experience teaches children about the values of love, bravery, and openness.

At the event, China Broadway also announced the setting up of the Broadway Kids Club, which will use the firm's resources to provide theater classes and training.

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