Some of the theater bills on show. Photo: Cai Xianmin/GT

"Almost every stage performer - especially performers of Peking Opera - if they want to be a nationally known star, they have to perform successfully in Shanghai," Yu Jinyun, the director of the Shanghai Municipal Culture and Arts Archives told the Global Times. "And the names of the actors and the programs printed on theater bills are witnesses to the brilliant history of stage performances in Shanghai," he added.

Glass cases

Yu is the curator of an ongoing exhibition at the Shanghai Mass Art Center entitled The Exhibition of Theater Bills and Repertoire Instructions in Shanghai from 1870 to 2010. Inside, rows of glass cases are used to display the nearly 800 artifacts. They are theater bills and "repertoire instructions" of various kinds, both from China and abroad.

"Most of them are from traditional Chinese operas that prevailed in the areas south of the Yangtze River from the 19th century onwards," said Yu. "These include Peking Opera, Kunqu Opera, Yueju Opera and also Shanghai Opera. There are also theater bills from modern dramas, concerts of symphonic music and other kinds of posters and stage booklets. The overseas performances are mostly from Japan, North Korea and the former Soviet Union."

Yu pointed out the exhibition's oldest bill, that of a poster for a Peking Opera which was performed at the Da Guan Yuan Theater in 1876. "Peking Opera first came to Shanghai in 1867, and this one is the earliest bills of its kind still in existence," Yu added.

The exhibition is also notable for its rare bills that advertised the "model operas" that were staged during the Cultural Revolution (1966–76). What is interesting is that they all had a standard design pattern that wasn't allowed to be changed.

A 19th century libretto of the famous pingtan (the traditional Chinee music art form) story, Jade Dragonfly from a private collection and a poster for another pingtan tale, The Legend of the Embroidery Pearl Tower, are just two of the treasures on show.

Furthermore, approximately 80 scores such as Ziyuan Hall Tablatures from 1801 and the Tianwen Cabinet Tablatures from 1876 are among the more valuable documents.

There is also a series of theater bills announcing the works of the great French playwright, Jean Baptiste Poquelin Moliere which were adapted into Chinese-language productions, such as The Miser (L'Avare) and The Middle-class Gentleman (Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme).

Date: Until November 9, 10 am to 6 pm

Venue: Shanghai Mass Art Center 上海群众艺术馆

Address: 125 Guyi Road

古宜路125号

Admission: Free

Call 5424-4152 for details