Performed on: 19:30, March 20, 2026; 14:30/19:30, March 21-22, 2026

Venue: Beijing Poly Theatre

Starring: Ni Dahong, Shi Ke, Mao Zijun, Huang Chengcheng (Casts vary by performance)

Synopsis: In 1898, the twenty-fourth year of the Guangxu Emperor's reign, Beijing is at a historic crossroads during the transition from spring to summer. As a solitary lamp flickers in the Yingtai Island, mirroring the Emperor's inner turmoil, dark undercurrents of power surge beneath the blossoming serenity of the Summer Palace. Meanwhile, Cui Jin Yuan, a garden nestled by the shores of Shichahai, becomes the silent chessboard upon which the fate of the Qing Dynasty is contested.

Within the garden's secluded walls, intimate dialogues between uncle and nephew reveal a nation's deep-seated anxieties. Beyond the gates, the earthy chatter at a braised offal stall captures the bittersweet reality of common life. In the Forbidden City, the issuance of the Imperial Edict on National Reforms ignites a blaze of transformation, only to summon a thunderous backlash. From the fervor of the Hundred Days' Reform to the chilling bloodshed of the Wuxu Coup, from the clamor of the Boxers to the march of the Eight-Nation Alliance, the aspirations of emperors, the calculations of powerful ministers, and the rise and fall of ordinary people all collide within the torrent of history. The pavilions and towers of Cui Jin Yuan bear witness to the brutal struggle for power and the tragic shattering of ideals. It is a profound inquiry into history: when an empire teeters on the brink and the dynasty faces its twilight, how does one choose between reform and tradition? How does one balance authority with the will of the people? How does one reconcile heritage with innovation? As the pigeons fly across the sky and the scent of braised offal still wafts through the air, those stormy years, captured in the shifting light and shadow of Cui Jin Yuan, have long since settled into an eternal echo.

Performed on: 19:30, March 27, 2026; 14:30/19:30, March 28, 2026; 14:30, March 29, 2026

Venue: Beijing Poly Theatre

Main Cast: Zu Feng, Liu Yang, Liu Xiaoye, Wang Jixu, and others (Casts vary by performance)

Synopsis: The celebration of the successful journey to the West is in full swing. As the iconic theme Where Lies the Path Ahead resounds through the Heavens, the deities sing in a jubilant chorus.

Yet Li Changgeng, the Supreme Lord Venus - the mastermind behind the trials set for the pilgrimage - stands apart from the festivities. As the music drifts around him, his spirits gradually wane, flanked by his primordial spirits of right mindfulness and turbid thought, who accompany him as he "reviews" the times he was summoned for a talk during the journey of Tang Sanzang and his disciples.

In this recollection, a parade of celestial figures - Guanyin, Manjushri, Samantabhadra, the Old Mother of Mount Li, Nezha, and the Heavenly Official of Earth - re-emerge. Their fates, intertwined with the enigmatic life of the Six-Eared Macaque, weave a complex tapestry of cause and effect. Together, they trace a seemingly plausible but ultimately distorted "truth".

Broadway Musical: Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Performed on: 19:30, April 1-3, 2026; 14:30/19:30, April 4-5, 2026; 19:30, April 6/8/10, 2026; 14:30/19:30, April 11-12, 2026

Venue: Beijing Poly Theatre

Performed by: Broadway International Group

Synopsis: Adapted from Roald Dahl's classic novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this musical features a captivating score by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, and a book by David Greig. The production seamlessly blends a whimsical new score with iconic tributes to the 1971 film classics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, including the timeless hits The Candy Man, I've Got a Golden Ticket, and Pure Imagination.

The world-renowned confectioner Willy Wonka is finally swinging open the gates to his mysterious chocolate factory - but only for a fortunate few. Young Charlie Bucket and four other Golden Ticket winners embark on a transformative odyssey through a fantastical realm of chocolate waterfalls, mischievous squirrels, and the legendary Great Glass Elevator - all under the guidance of Wonka's curious Oompa-Loompas.

Drama: Murder on the Orient Express

Performed on: 19:30, April 16-18, 2026; 14:30, April 19, 2026

Venue: Beijing Poly Theatre

Performed by: Shanghai Mousetrap Drama Studio

Synopsis: The world-famous Orient Express, along with sixteen passengers of diverse identities, becomes trapped in a severe snowstorm in the former Yugoslavia. Amid the mounting tension, a murder quietly occurs... Detective Hercule Poirot steps in once again, navigating through lies and mysteries to uncover an almost unbelievable truth.

Drama: The Seventh Day

Original Work by Yu Hua x Directed by Meng Jinghui; Starring: Chen Minghao, Huang Xiangli, Li Gengxi

Performed on: 19:30, April 30-May 1; 14:30, May 2

Venue: Beijing Poly Theatre

Starring: Chen Minghao, Huang Xiangli, Li Gengxi

Synopsis; The Seventh Day is both a biblical metaphor and a journey reminiscent of Dante's Divine Comedy. It tells the story of an ordinary man's experiences during the seven days after his death. Using his social connections and the realms of the living and the dead as a framework, the narrative weaves together a world filled with illusions, memories, and dreams. Birds of mist appear among his father, wife, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances; blood of shame flows through the indistinct city where he once lived; hearts of unbridled desire bloom amidst a sensory world shrouded in thin sorrow. As truths accumulate layer upon layer, he gazes upon causes and conditions through the eyes of a ghost, searching for a place of inner peace. The world of the living is harsh and brutal, yet the realm of the dead after death is tender as water, where hearts pulse and beat, hanging from the trees.

Drama: Protagonist - Part of Shaanxi People's Art Theatre's "Trilogy of Mao Dun Literary Prize Winners"

Performed on: 19:30, April 24-25, 2026; 14:30, April 26, 2026

Venue: Beijing Poly Theatre

Performed by: Shaanxi People's Art Theatre

Synopsis: The drama Protagonist traces the nearly half‑century journey of Yi Qin'e, a renowned Qin opera actress. It vividly portrays her legendary path from an 11‑year‑old shepherd girl who, through her uncle's connections, entered a theater troupe only to end up as a kitchen drudge, to her apprenticeship and struggle from a supporting role to becoming the acclaimed "Queen of Qin Opera".

Yet the brilliance of the stage is interwoven with the hardships of fate. She finds herself entangled in ill‑fated relationships time and again and swept into the vortex of public opinion. The more she refrains from competing, the more she is pushed into the spotlight. In the end, even her adopted daughter, whom she trained herself, takes her place as the leading role—a mirror reflecting the unique yet universal tragedy of an individual swept along by the tides of the era. All the characters in the play are caught up in the currents of their time, together presenting a grand portrait of ordinary people navigating a world of great change.

The BJIFF Drama Section will also serve as part of the "Beijing Film & Life Festival" and "Everlasting BJIFF". Moving forward, the Drama Section remains committed to showcasing exceptional theatrical works. By placing high-quality content at its heart, the program aims to bridge the worlds of film and theater, offering enthusiasts a diverse cultural landscape. This synergy allows audiences to broaden their cultural horizons and indulge in a cultural feast that masterfully balances entertainment with artistic depth.

Beyond the screen and the stage lies a shared passion. While the intimacy of the theater captures pure passion, the "vast river" of cinema preserves the essence of art. Through the medium of theater and the companionship of film, this year's BJIFF Drama Section invites you to join us for this unique artistic rendezvous.