[Video by Hongkou district media center and thepaper.com]

Brand Butchwald, known as Papa-G, arrived in Shanghai in 2006 and later co-founded The Pearl on Hongkou's Zhapu Road.

Years ago, he and his partners discovered an Egyptian-themed karaoke bar and felt an irresistible spark of possibility. They set out to reimagine the forgotten space, and the result is an intimate theatre that summons the romance of a 1920s Victorian playhouse, alive with velvet curtains, vintage lighting, and a stage that invites stories to unfold.

At The Pearl, Papa-G curates and performs, weaving together jazz, drama, and immersive productions with the instinct of a showman who understands both nostalgia and the thrill of the new. Night after night, he infuses the North Bund with a sense of anticipation, drawing audiences into a world of performance that feels both timeless and daring.

For him, the magic of Shanghai lies in its constant reinvention. The city's rich everyday texture blends seamlessly with the energy of its new era, just as Zhapu Road blends its old lanes with modern theatres, galleries, and boutiques that signal a neighborhood continually awakening to fresh possibilities.

Source: Hongkou district government