Kunqu Opera "Peony Pavilion (A Trilogy)" by Pai Xianyong & Suzhou Opera Theatre (Chapter 3/3) at Shanghai Oriental Art Center

A story of forbidden love, death and resurrection, "Peony Pavilion" from the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) has been compared to China's "Romeo and Juliet." It centers on the love of Du Liniang, the daughter of a rich family, and a poor young scholar Liu Mengmei. They meet and fall in love in a dream, while Du is sleeping in the family's peony pavilion in their garden.

Many versions of "Peony Pavilion" have been staged and 600-year-old Kunqu Opera versions are common."But the new version will be more condensed and offer big emotional beats with simple acting. Many performers have overexerted themselves portraying the characters. However, what our audience need is not elaborate, stereotypical performance with too many techniques, but acting that can inspire and evoke imagination.The stage setting and costumes will also be simpler and more abstract, trying to recreate the play's original performance style.

Shi, known for her performance in the Peking Opera "Unicorn-trapping Purse," will play Du. Shi says that she like many Peking Opera performers have been required to learn Kunqu Opera."But it is still a challenge," she says. "The elegant art form is not that easy. The performer must be versatile, with an all-round ability to act, sing and dance."

Zhang is considering an overseas tour for the garden-version of "Peony Pavilion" in Germany and the United States. He is also preparing a new staging of the Kunqu Opera classic "Palace of Eternal Youth."Earlier this year, he was named a UNESCO Artist for Peace, honoring his efforts to spread appreciation for Kunqu Opera and traditional Chinese culture.