A Stroll in the Garden, An Interrupted Dream

A Stroll in the Garden, An Interrupted Dream
《游园惊梦》

Venue: No 9, Jiaochangqiao Lu, Pingjiang district, Suzhou, Jiangsu province (Suzhou Kunqu Opera Transmission Institute)
Ticket price: 98/198/298/398/ yuan per person ($13.64-$55.40)

Show time:
7:30 pm - 8:30 pm (Saturdays)
Duration: 60 minutes

Notes:
1. Children 1.2 meters and under in height do not require a ticket and will not be assigned a seat.
2. Children over 1.2 meters, minors under the age of 18, and students in primary school, middle school, high school and university (excluding postgraduate and higher education levels) are eligible to purchase student tickets.

The garden-set immersive version of A Stroll in the Garden, An Interrupted Dream (Youyuan Jingmeng) exquisitely stages the two most iconic scenes from the Kunqu Opera The Peony Pavilion (Mudan Ting), bringing them vividly to life within a classical Chinese garden. This allows the audience to feel as if they have stepped into the world of the play itself, experiencing firsthand its poetic beauty.

The production tells the story of Du Liniang, who dresses up carefully and ventures excitedly into the garden to enjoy the spring scenery. Yet the beautiful setting stirs a sense of melancholy within her. Back in her room, she sighs over being 16 yet without a soulmate, and drifts off to sleep in sadness. In her dream, a young scholar appears holding a willow branch. He invites Liniang to write a poem, and under the blessing of the Flower Goddess, the two share a passionate, romantic encounter in the Peony Pavilion.

After years of refinement, the immersive version of the show has undergone creative innovations to enhance both audience engagement and visual experience. As a result of years of innovative polishing, both audience engagement and the overall visual experience have been dramatically enhanced. The performance begins the moment visitors step through the gate of the Suzhou Kunqu Opera Transmission Institute. Set within this traditionally styled courtyard, audiences can observe actors rehearsing Kunqu tunes and applying makeup, closely examine intricate costumes and hear legendary tales of Kunqu artists from the “Chuan” generation. They can also experience a variety of Suzhou cultural elements such as tea ceremonies, incense rituals, and guqin performances. With guided interpretation from the staff, guests gradually become immersed in the refined elegance of Suzhou-style culture.