Shenzhen’s Longhua District will partner with China Oriental Performing Arts Group to develop a new theater cluster, according to a cooperation agreement signed at Longhua Children’s Palace on Nov. 28.

Shenzhen’s Longhua District and China Oriental Performing Arts Group signs a cooperation agreement on jointly build a theater cluster at Longhua Children’s Palace on Nov. 28. Photos courtesy of the event organizer

The cluster will center on three major art facilities located in Luhu, Dalang, and Guanlan. Among them, the Luhu Art Center will serve as the flagship venue, featuring a 1,416-seat grand theater, a 577-seat box theater, 20 classrooms, 20 dressing rooms, and more than 1,000 square meters of rehearsal space. The adjacent Luhu Cultural Hall will include a 378-seat small theater designed for public-benefit performances and arts education programs.

The Luhu Art Center in Guanhu Subdistrict.

A scene at a small theater within the Luhu Cultural Hall.

Another key venue, the Dalang Cultural and Art Center, will house a 796-seat medium-sized theater and 300 experimental “theater labs.” Meanwhile, the Guanlan Public Art Center, covering 7,752 square meters, will host facilities such as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area branch of the China Oriental Performing Arts Group Training School and a 300-seat digital-technology theater.

The partnership aims to transform traditional theaters into comprehensive cultural spaces that integrate artistic creation, presentation, and immersive experiences. It will also leverage the group’s expertise in performance production, arts education, and culture-tourism integration to support Longhua’s cultural development.

“An international dance production will be staged at the Luhu Art Center by the end of the year, marking the official debut of the theater cluster,” said Zhang Yinglin, general manager of the Shenzhen Office of China Oriental Performing Arts Group Co., Ltd.

Building on the cluster, the group will introduce more high-quality domestic and international productions to Shenzhen at accessible prices, Zhang added. The GBA branch of the training school will also develop a complete arts education system, nurturing young talent in drama, stage plays and dance.

A rendering of Dalang Cultural and Art Center.

A rendering of Guanlan Public Art Center.

China Oriental Performing Arts Group is a national-level cultural institution. Its predecessors—the Chinese Song and Dance Troupe and the Oriental Song and Dance Troupe—are among China’s most prestigious state performing ensembles. For decades, they have represented the highest standards of Chinese music and dance, nurturing numerous world-renowned artists and creating an extensive repertoire of acclaimed works beloved by audiences at home and abroad.

The troupes have toured across China and visited five continents, performing in more than 70 countries and regions on behalf of the nation. They have also participated in many major state events, fulfilling their unique role as “cultural envoys” on the diplomatic stage.