The 2nd Spring Now Art Festival was launched on March 11 at the West Bund Theatre and will run until June. Built around the theme "no fear", the festival partners with the Shanghai Grand Theatre and Theatre Young to create a multi-venue arts network, presenting more than 50 performances and cultural events.

Six major productions take center stage at this year's festival, bringing together leading artists from China and around the world:

• The theatre will host the JZ Spring concert series, featuring jazz piano master Kenny Barron, Brazilian music legend Ivan Lins, and jazz harp virtuoso Edmar Castaneda alongside rising Chinese jazz talents, creating a vibrant dialogue between Eastern and Western musical traditions.
• The classic musical The Legend of 1900 returns to the West Bund Theatre, telling the story of a fearless soul shaped by the boundless words of the sea and music.
• Lady Vengeance, a musical co-created by Chinese and South Korean artists, brings together an all-star cast to portray a heroic woman breaking free from constraints with emotional intensity and dramatic force.
• The Palace Through Time, a dance drama inspired by the murals of the Yongle Palace in Shanxi province, blends modern choreography with classical movement to breathe new life into centuries-old cultural heritage.
• The Code of the Dynasty II, an immersive theatre production, invites audiences to follow the protagonist as they unravel an ancient mystery.
• For the first time, three prestigious arts institutions from the Palace of Versailles — the Royal Opera, the Baroque Music Center of Versailles, and the Royal Opera Academy — join forces to present Opera Royal Chateau de Versailles in China. Through multimedia staging, the production recreates a Baroque royal ceremony in the form of a spectacular concert performance.

Beyond these standout performances, the festival extends into public spaces with outdoor art exhibitions, artist talks, rehearsal open houses, workshops, and youth arts education programs. These initiatives are designed to bring art closer to everyday life, allowing audiences of all ages and backgrounds to experience creativity up close.

To view the complete schedule and learn more about the festival, visit the official website or follow the WeChat account of the West Bund Theatre.

Source: West Bund Theatre