This summer, theaters across Beijing are bringing a dazzling lineup of performances to the stage. Experience the magic of the performing arts as lights, music, and dramatic storytelling come together on the stage.
National Centre for the Performing Arts
Opera: Norma
August 19 to 22
Performing language: Italian (English and Chinese subtitles available)
Opera House, National Centre for the Performing Arts
Love, betrayal and sacrifice are the themes of this opera, which features pure, exquisite melodies and deeply moving arias, among which "Casta Diva" is one of the most celebrated in opera history.
Original West End production of Matilda the Musical
August 7 to 23
Performing language: English
Opera House, Beijing Performing Arts Centre
Produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company, this original musical has won more than 100 international awards. With its engaging story and lively performances, it is the perfect choice for a family outing.
2026 NCPA International Children's Theatre Season
Through August 30
Performing language: Chinese
The theater will present four outstanding productions: The Tale of Canal, The Little Witch and Her Music Seed, Here Comes GuDong and Mulan. Children's set meals, drinks and desserts are also available, along with souvenirs such as building-block fridge magnets and fun stationery.
Beijing People's Art Theatre
Beijing International Theatre Centre – Cao Yu Theatre
Old-Fashioned Comedy
August 11 to 23
Performing language: Chinese
Adapted from a classic work by Russian playwright Aleksei Arbuzov, the play unfolds through nine finely crafted scenes of everyday dialogue, telling a tender and haunting story of an unexpected encounter.
Enigma Variations
August 29 to September 17
Performing language: Chinese
Based on the original work written by French writer Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt in 1996, the drama Enigma Variation takes audiences through a series of unexpected twists and turns, revealing the complexity and fascination of human emotions and relationships.
Beijing International Theatre Center – Renyi Studio Theatre
The Bench
August 1 to 14
Performing language: Chinese
Adapted from a classic work by Soviet playwright Alexander Gelman, the play is an influential two-character one-act drama. Set in a confined space, the story unfolds layer by layer, offering both a nuanced portrayal of everyday life and a profound exploration of relationships between men and women.
Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center
Musical: Daddy Long Legs (Beijing Resident Production)
August 8 to 16
Performing language: Chinese
Multi-Function Theatre, Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center
Adapted from Jean Webster's classic novel, the musical unfolds through a series of letters, telling a warm and touching story about coming of age and finding companionship.
Original One-person Musical: When Clouds Bloom
August 22 to 23
Performing language: Chinese
Studio Theatre, Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center
An 80-minute one-woman musical featuring both solo singing and dancing, the production returns to the essence of theater and celebrates the gentle yet powerful force of women's resilience and redemption.
Stage Play: Death of a Salesman
August 21 to 23
Performing language: Chinese
Grand Theatre, Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center
Written by American playwright Arthur Miller in 1949, Death of a Salesman is a world-renowned classic of modern theater. The Beijing production will bring the audience a new experience.
Wukesong – Musicfans Art Space
Children's Play from Beijing Children's Art Theater: Terracotta Warriors of the Great Qin‑Oracle Bone School 3
August 12 to 23
Three modern-day elementary school students accidentally travel back to the Qin state at the end of the Warring States period, where they encounter historical figures including Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor in Chinese history. The production combines hilarious adventures with engaging lessons in Chinese history.
(Source: Official WeChat account of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism)
