Tianjin, January 12 (Xinhua) -- Title: Enjoying "The Stage" at the "Theater's Wharf": Audiences in "Tongue Capital" Understand Humor, But Also Appreciate the Essence of Opera
Reporter Sun Lingling
"Tianjin is the hometown of drama, and those of us in this profession are particularly afraid to perform in Tianjin," said performing artist Chen Peisi. This "fear" stems from his awe of the professional discerning eye of Tianjin audiences. Now, the classic play "The Stage," starring Chen Peisi, is coming to Tianjin again. From the 8th to the 11th, this play, which has toured for 7 years, performed more than 360 times, and reached 60 cities across the country, is still in high demand in Tianjin.
The play "The Stage" premiered in Tianjin on January 8. (Photo provided by Tianjin Performing Arts Network)Tianjin is often seen as a city that theater professionals both "fear" and "love"—"fear" its discerning eye, and "love" its rare kindred spirits. The audience of Tianjin, known as the "City of Comedy," demonstrates more than just an understanding of comedy in "The Stage"; they also possess an ingrained appreciation for theater. Inside the theater, laughter and applause are always perfectly timed between punchlines and lines.
"The professionalism of Tianjin audiences is reflected in their extremely keen ears." Huang Zhenwei, a student at Tianjin Normal University and a post-00s opera enthusiast, told reporters after watching "The Stage" on the 8th. "If an actor on stage doesn't deliver a line properly, ordinary audiences might not notice, but Tianjin audiences will. Their feedback, whether it's laughter or booing, is genuine and precise."
This discerning eye stems from Tianjin's rich history as a century-old "theater hub." Ren Bo, director of the marketing center of Tianjin Northern Performing Arts Group Co., Ltd., who was deeply involved in the introduction of high-quality productions such as "The Stage," explained: "Tianjin audiences are 'trained.' Historically, opera troupes from both the north and south gathered here, and audiences developed a discerning eye through long-term observation. The old saying in the opera world, 'Learn opera in Beijing, and make it famous in Tianjin,' perfectly points out the city's special status in the opera world." He observed that it is precisely this unique audience ecosystem formed by historical accumulation that allows high-quality productions like "The Stage" to always find their audience in Tianjin, achieving a win-win situation for both art and the market.
Huang Zhenwei attended 132 performances of various plays in 2025, a typical example of the growing number of young theatergoers in Tianjin. He observed that the number of young faces in theaters has been increasing in recent years. "When I started watching plays six or seven years ago, there weren't many young people around me. Especially since last year, the number of young audience members has increased exponentially," he joked, adding that he, born in 2000, is almost an "old man" among today's theatergoers. The influx of his peers into theaters reflects the real demand of young people for aesthetic experiences and cultural consumption.
"The level of the audience determines the depth and height of a city's culture." Yang Lei, deputy general manager of China Grand Theatre, said that the Tianjin market has always responded positively to high-quality performances. "The audience votes for art by buying tickets, silently pushing the performance market in a better direction."
Online blogger "Tianjin Lao Dou" is also a seasoned opera enthusiast. In his view, the vitality of Tianjin's performing arts market stems from a virtuous cycle of "real skills on stage and discerning audience members off stage." Chen Peisi's strict instruction to young actors, "If you can't do it, go home and practice until you understand it before coming back," combined with the professional eye of Tianjin audiences, has built the most precious trust on the stage.
On October 3, 2025, a flash mob performance of the Peking Opera "Farewell My Concubine" was staged on the street-facing balcony of the China Grand Theater in Heping District, Tianjin, attracting citizens and tourists to stop and watch. (Photo by Tong Yu)This unspoken understanding between the stage and the audience was evident throughout the "Tianjin Drama Festival 2025". The sold-out performance of "The Stage," a key production of the festival, was not an isolated case. Over three months, the festival featured 417 performances and 98 productions. From the opening play "The White Snake: A Joyful Meeting with a Promoting Official," a collaboration between troupes from Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei, to the Cantonese drama "Lantern Festival" by the Hong Kong Chung Ying Theatre Company and "La Traviata" by the China National Opera; from classic revivals like "The Phoenix Hairpin" and "One Servant, Two Masters," to the "Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Campus Drama Invitational Exhibition," the stage showcased a diverse range of talents, blending the old and the new.
Of particular note is that during the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays in 2025 alone, Tianjin launched 289 immersive performances that took place outside the theater. Theater took root in the Italian Style Area, the Ancient Culture Street, and shopping malls, truly making "theatre all around us," allowing citizens and tourists to encounter art unexpectedly while strolling around.
On the afternoon of the 11th, the performance of "The Stage" in Tianjin concluded successfully, leaving a lingering impression. In Tianjin, a hub of traditional performing arts, those who understand humor and those who understand the essence of drama have long been inseparable. The "trepidation" expressed by artists like Chen Peisi back then was perhaps the most genuine recognition of the city's theatrical heritage and the audience's discerning taste. (End)
