The Cat God in the Forbidden City, an original song and dance drama co-produced by the China National Theater for Children (CNTC) and the Palace Museum, took home the Wenhua Grand Prize at the closing ceremony of the 14th China Art Festival on Nov 4 in Chongqing.
From a cat's perspective, the play tells a heartwarming story of friendship and companionship, memory and history, and life and eternity. It aims to promote the Forbidden City, an embodiment of fine traditional Chinese culture, to audiences worldwide, according to the play's producers.
The win marks the ninth time that CNTC has scooped the top national accolade for professional stage productions, according to the Beijing-based institution.
Since its premiere in December 2023, The Cat God in the Forbidden City has been staged nearly 170 times in more than 30 Chinese cities and counties, receiving widespread popular and critical acclaim. On Nov 29 and 30, the award-winning drama will stage three more performances at CNTC in Beijing.
Feng Li, president of the China National Opera & Dance Drama Theater and former president of CNTC, is both the playwright of the drama and the author of the eponymous children's book. She shared that the song and dance drama is one of over 50 theatrical works that she and her colleagues created during her 11-year tenure at the theater, representing the culmination of her growth alongside the national children's drama team.
Zhang Yansheng, Party chief of CNTC, said that the theater, inspired by the win, will stay committed to serving children and teenagers and keep developing original stage works rooted in fine traditional Chinese culture.
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