Classics to take center stage

The Kunqu Opera classics Jade Hairpin and The Peony Pavilion will be staged in Guangzhou during the third week of October.

Jade Hairpin tells the tale of a young scholar falling in love with a Taoist nun, who comes from a wealthy family but seeks shelter from war in the nunnery.

The Peony Pavilion lasts for nine hours and is divided into three parts, each staged on a different night. In the whimsical story, the hero and the heroine fall in love in their dreams.

Taiwan writer Pai Hsien-yung is the artistic director of the upcoming shows. To present a fresh edition, he has cast young performers to play most of the roles and has tailored the costumes to modern viewers' taste.

7:30 pm, Oct 16 for Jade Hairpin; 7:30 pm, Oct 18-20 for The Peony Pavilion. Guangzhou Opera House, Exit B1 of Zhujiang New Town subway station. 020-3839-2888.