Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the flourishing stage productions in Beijing, showcasing the city's rich cultural heritage and contemporary themes, while emphasizing the integration of performing arts with tourism and commerce [1][8]. Group 1: Cultural Heritage and Thematic Exploration - Beijing's stage creations are deeply rooted in its cultural soil, utilizing various art forms to explore themes related to the city's history and traditions [3][4]. - Notable works include the original play "Jin Zhong Du," which focuses on historical events, and adaptations like "Luo Tuo Xiang Zi," which revives classic narratives from old Beijing [3][4]. - Productions also reflect modern Beijing's vibrancy, such as "Yi Ri Ding Liu," which discusses artificial intelligence, and "Yuan Fang De La Sa He," based on real stories of aid workers [4] Group 2: Commemorative Works - A significant number of productions commemorate historical events, such as the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Anti-Japanese War, with works like "Ye Huo Chun Feng Dou Gu Cheng" and "Hong Gao Liang" [6][7]. - These productions aim to evoke national memory and resonate with contemporary audiences, reflecting on themes of resistance and identity [6][7]. Group 3: Awards and Market Performance - Beijing's cultural institutions have achieved notable recognition, with multiple awards at the 18th Wenhua Awards, indicating a strong foundation for stage creation [8]. - From January to September, the city hosted approximately 45,000 performances, attracting over 11.23 million attendees and generating ticket sales exceeding 4.198 billion yuan, reflecting a healthy demand for performing arts [8].

Core Viewpoint - The puppet show "My Name is A Dun," created by the Beijing Federation of Literary and Art Circles, premiered at the Avignon OFF Theatre Festival in France, showcasing a blend of Chinese cultural elements and a narrative centered around the character A Dun, a panda who aspires to be the best version of himself [1][3][5]. Group 1: Production and Concept - "My Name is A Dun" is a key project aimed at transforming the Winter Olympics mascot "Bing Dwen Dwen" into a sustainable cultural IP, represented by the panda character A Dun [3]. - The story follows A Dun, who becomes an orphan due to an earthquake and dreams of becoming an athlete like his idol, ultimately realizing the importance of being true to oneself [3][5]. Group 2: Cultural Impact and Reception - The show features ten actors manipulating puppets with traditional Chinese performance techniques, incorporating elements like shadow play and paper-cutting, which resonate with Chinese artistic traditions [5]. - The performance was well-received, with audience members expressing that they understood the core message of courage and friendship overcoming challenges, despite language barriers [5]. Group 3: Collaborative Efforts - French puppet director Marjorie, who designed the puppets, emphasized the significance of cross-cultural collaboration and the team spirit developed during the production process [7]. - The creative team held a sharing session at the festival, highlighting the technical and artistic discussions that emerged from their collaboration, which was praised by the festival's co-chair [7]. Group 4: Future Performances - Following the Avignon festival, "My Name is A Dun" is scheduled to perform at the Beijing Shadow Puppet Art Week and the Daliangshan Theatre Festival, indicating its ongoing journey and potential for broader cultural exchange [7].