Looking like a glass palace, the Shanghai Grand Theater is an enormous structure that was opened in 1998 and has one of the best and biggest performing platforms in the world. Under its roof, various play and acts of local and foreign origin have taken place that have been a delight to Shanghai locals and tourists alike. Built over 4 years, the complex houses many performance groups including the Shanghai Opera House.
The Shanghai Grand Theater is located in the busy intersection of Renmin and Huangpi North road, in a corner of the People’s Square. There are lots of public transport options to avail in this popular area. However, the most convenient would be the People’s Square subway station which is a 10 minutes’ walk away from the venue and has stops of three lines; 1, 2 and 8. The ticket center is a separate building next to the entrance and is open 7 days a week from 09:00 to 20:00. Schedules are available here and tickets may be purchased here or online. Prices range from RMB50 to RMB880 depending on a number of factors. For the best shows, tickets have to be bought way in advance or risk it getting sold out. Recently, as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, the Shanghai Grand Theater has launched an online platform ‘Zero Stop’ which will stream live performances in superior quality and also have pre-recorded content for viewers.
Designed by Jean-Marie Charpentier of the French company ARTE Charpentier, the architecture is the epitome of elegance with glass that gleams under the sun and absolutely dazzles with lights under the night sky. There are a trio of theaters inside for different sorts of performances. The principal one with capacity of 1,800 is the main Auditorium decked in rich red and gold hues and reserved for operas, dramas and large-scale productions with a state-of -the-art stage machinery and the best of acoustics and lightning. The seating arrangement is well thought out and provides a fulfilling experience from every angle. The Buick Theater is mid-sized with warm walnut tones, capacity of 575 and is for chamber concerts, meetings and mid to small scale performances; located on the 2nd floor. And lastly there is the Studio Theater, done up in dark grey, with almost 300 seats for fashion shows and soft openings located on the 5th floor.
Apart from the three theaters, the Shanghai Grand Theater also has rehearsal rooms for bands and ballet performances, exhibition halls for conferences and art shows, VIP hall, ticketing center and a banquet hall. Parking space has been provided for in the compound, a blessing since it is in such a busy traffic zone. The Maxim restaurant, a coffee shop and a place to buy souvenirs is also on site for people who want to experience every facet of this grand venue.
Famous operas and plays that were scheduled to grace these halls in 2020 include; Vienna Royal Orchestra, Swan Lake ballet and the Italian Milan Symphony Orchestra among others.