Groundbreaking stage initiative to give audiences better view of performances

The Chinese play Lin Zexu lit up the stage at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on April 19. But this performance was unlike any before. For the first time, the stirring historical narrative unfolding onstage was simultaneously experienced by audiences across China through a groundbreaking ultra-high-definition livestream.

The debut of this NCPA project, the Second Stage Initiative, extended live performances to 25 theaters, over 100 cinemas, and two universities across the nation, encompassing regions like Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and Hainan province, engaging over 25,000 viewers.

According to Wang Ning, president of the NCPA, the initiative is a major cultural innovation powered by cutting-edge technologies, such as ultra-high-definition livestreaming, panoramic sound systems and intelligent directing.