The original stage play, Wenci, premieres in Huangyan district, Taizhou, Zhejiang province, on July 23. [Photo/taizhou.com.cn]

The original stage play, Wenci, centered around the Shabu celadon from Huangyan district, Taizhou, Zhejiang province, premiered in Huangyan on July 23.

The Shabu Kiln is a significant archaeological discovery in Taizhou in recent years. Its discovery has challenged the notion that Taizhou lacked porcelain, bridging historical gaps in Chinese celadon development between the Yue and Longquan kilns.

The play intertwines two main storylines: Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) porcelain maker Yue Ding's journey to Shabu in search of porcelain-making techniques and contemporary celadon archaeologist Sun Zhenxi's 20-year exploration in Shabu. 

By weaving together ancient and modern narratives, the play bridges a millennium of inheritance. The spirit of craftsmanship and unwavering pursuit are exquisitely portrayed, making this play a vital part of Huangyan's cultural revival.

The stage design of the play gives audiences a splendid visual feast. [Photo/taizhou.com.cn]

The production's stage design, costumes, lighting, and multimedia seamlessly incorporate Shabu celadon elements, enhancing the storytelling. The stage, inspired by Shabu celadon, features nine suspended ceramic panels, while multimedia projections showcase the distinctive patterns of Shabu Kiln and the map of Shabu, creating a visually striking effect.

The costumes feature patterns of Shabu Kiln and use yellow-gray and green-gray tones, which are the main colors of Shabu celadon. Dancers in emerald green long dress look like celadons shuttling through light and shadow, adding a poetic dimension to the performance.

The play not only tells the story of Shabu celadon artistically but also paves the way for the promotion and preservation of Shabu celadon culture. Future plans include transforming the play into an immersive live performance at the Shabu Celadon Site Park, ensuring its regular staging.