BUILDING THE PILLARS Will Make Shanghai Debut in October

Zhejiang Performing Arts Group’s dance drama “Building the Pillars” will make its Shanghai debut Oct. 9-11 at Shanghai Culture Square as part of the 25th China Shanghai International Arts Festival. Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9 and 10 and 2 p.m. Oct. 11 at the venue’s Main Auditorium.

Directed by Han Zhen and Zhou Liya, “Building the Pillars” follows the life and work of architect Lin Huiyin through her efforts to survey and document historic Chinese architecture. The production also focuses on Liang Sicheng and other Chinese intellectuals of the period, using their work to preserve architectural history and cultural heritage as the basis for the story.

The production uses architectural surveying as its central narrative device and incorporates elements based on traditional Chinese architectural structures. The work is presented in six sections built around imagery including windows, foundations, brackets, eaves, ornamental supports and roof ridges. The production runs approximately 120 minutes and is performed in Chinese.

Han Zhen and Zhou Liya serve as chief directors, with Lin Qiaosi as playwright and Xu Nuo as dramaturg. Ren Dongsheng is the visual and lighting designer, Lü Liang is the composer, Li Ao is the set designer, Yang Donglin is the Costume Designer, Hu Tianji and Wang Yuning handle multimedia design, and Jia Lei is the styling designer.

The cast includes Hua Xiaoyi, Wu Jiawen, Xu Jiarui, Xia Tian, Liu Sai, Sun Junnan, Li Yinghao, Zhang Yue, Zhang Yin, Gong Qiqian, Zhang Han, Liu Yanbo, Chen Yixie and Gu Yiwei. The production features multiple performers in several roles, including Lin Huiyin, Liang Sicheng, young Lin Huiyin and Lin Heng.

“Building the Pillars” was produced by Zhejiang Performing Arts Group and performed by Zhejiang Song and Dance Theatre. The production is presented by the Zhejiang Provincial Publicity Department, Tsinghua University, People's Daily Online, Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism, and Zhejiang Performing Arts Group, with Beijing Dance Academy, the Shangcheng District Government of Hangzhou and Zhejiang Song and Dance Theatre among the co-producers. Academic support is provided by the School of Architecture at Tsinghua University and the Memorial Museum of the Society for Research in Chinese Architecture.

Tickets are priced from 80 to 880 yuan. The Shanghai Culture Square listing identifies the production as a dance drama and lists all three performances as part of the venue’s 2026 program. “Building the Pillars” began its first national tour in September and will continue to additional Chinese cities following its Shanghai engagement.