A bold reimagining of Tang Xianzu’s romantic masterpiece, The Peony Pavilion returns to the Shanghai stage this August at Theatre YOUNG. Produced by Shanghai Grand Theatre and led by playwright Luo Zhou and director Ma Junfeng, this Kunqu opera breaks from traditional formats with a dual-dream structure and a 45-degree tilted stage that collapses time, memory, and fantasy into a hauntingly poetic whole. Featuring acclaimed Kunqu artists Shan Wen and Zhang Jun, this version reassembles iconic scenes with a cinematic flow, mirrored stage design, and newly composed polyphonic duets. It’s the most classical and yet most contemporary take on The Peony Pavilion to date—an emotional and visually stunning journey through love, longing, and rebirth.