Best bets

National Theatre of China Drama Dorogaya Yelena Sergeevna

Date: Aug 16-20 - 9 am

Venue: National Center for the Performing Arts

Price: 100-500 yuan

The lonely, melancholy math teacher Yelena Sergeevna has never thought that on such a cold snowy night, four of her students would have come to celebrate her birthday that she has almost forgotten. More unexpectedly, there is a "game" of youth hidden behind the beautiful flowers. The "game" starts from a key. The teenagers want to use it to unlock the safe which keeps the examination papers, and exchange them with the right answers they have brought. Since they are tenth graders who about to graduate, unsatisfactory graduation examination results will ruin their future. Yelena is the one who keeps the key, and she refuses to give it to her students. As the "game" goes on, dream and reality, truth and lie, passion and indifference, persistence and confusion, rule and free, defense and destruction, past and future, all are fighting against each other. What will it be like tomorrow after the struggle?

Romeo& Julia Koeren

Date: Aug 12 - 7:30 pm

Venue: National Center for the Performing Arts

Price: 50-320 yuan

Born of the stage, Romeo& Julia Koeren honors a musical storytelling tradition. The ensemble sings and emotes, making each performance a visual as well as a musical experience. The result is a unique form of vocal drama. Their eclectic repertoire spans from Italian Renaissance and French Baroque to Slavic songs and fiery folk tunes. Romeo& Julia Koeren takes the audience on a magic carpet ride that features tender tales of love as well as burlesque comedy.