Dance Drama The Golden Lotus (金瓶梅) To Premiere In Singapore

Dance drama The Golden Lotus (金瓶梅), adapted from the famous Chinese literary classic of the same name, will make its debut in Singapore.

Lianhe Wanbao, the Chinese evening daily of Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), in celebration of its 30th anniversary, will jointly present The Golden Lotus with Scorpio East Productions. The Golden Lotus will be performed by the renowned Beijing Dance Theater (北京当代芭蕾舞团) at the Esplanade Theatre on 22 and 23 June.

The story of The Golden Lotus is set in the household of Ximen Qing, the corrupt and lustful merchant who lives in the Ming Dynasty. It chronicles the decadence that takes place among the adulterous protagonist and the three main female characters Pan Jinlian, Li Ping'er and Pang Chunmei.

Although the story was written in the 16th century, the theme of the novel, which is its relentless pursuit of desires and ambition, still resonates in the modern world. Generations of readers have recognised the sophisticated literary techniques and dramatic role of eroticism in the novel, which has gained notoriety over the centuries for its explicit depiction of sexuality.

Mr Lim Huan Chiang, Vice President of Cultural Industry Promotion, Chinese Newspapers Division, said: "SPH's Chinese Newspapers Division has always been actively promoting Chinese culture in Singapore. Previously, we have presented several major Chinese musical productions such as Immortality, A Tale of Shaolin, Journey to the West, Thousand-Hand Bodhisattva and Hello Nasirdin Apandim. The most recent production Opera Warriors was also well-received by the Singapore audiences. We are confident that Singaporeans will be captivated by The Golden Lotus, which is a visual treat with its breathtaking dance performances and sensuality."