"Escaping Winter in the Cold March" Shanghai Theatre Academy Show

In March, when another cold wave hit Shanghai, I entered the Duanjun Theatre at Shanghai Theatre Academy to watch the student graduation showcase "I Escaped Time on Children's Day Morning." It was a perfect opportunity to experience the best combination of architecture, history, and art up close, allowing me to escape winter in the chilly yet warming March.✨ The Shanghai Theatre Academy Theatre, located on Huashan Road campus, is a small theatre with 300 seats. It was originally an experimental theatre, also known as the "small theatre." Shanghai Theatre Academy and Shanghai Conservatory of Music (Shangyin) are considered the shining twin stars in Shanghai’s art education field, having nurtured countless talents for the arts over the years. Students hold various forms of performances that are not only rich in content but also diverse in style. For this performance, "I Escaped Time on Children's Day Morning," the concept was inspired by the director’s grandmother’s personal experience, telling a story about someone with Alzheimer’s disease. The quality was quite good, and the actors are all students from the 2023-2025 master’s directing class, rivaling television dramas. These school performances even offer free tickets, truly a blessing for art lovers! Besides watching the stage performances, the Huashan campus itself has a group of historic buildings: 1. The main building of Huashan Road campus was formerly "Bai Gongguan," built in the early 20th century. It was originally a private garden villa for German expatriates. In the 1940s, Nationalist general Bai Chongxi briefly lived here, and his son, the famous writer Bai Xianyong, spent his childhood here, hence the name "Bai Gongguan." It blends European classicism and Art Deco styles, with a white exterior and elegant interior decorations. Details like staircases and stained glass windows are well preserved. It now houses the Shanghai Theatre Academy library. Bai Xianyong’s literary works (such as "Taipei People") mention this building multiple times. 2. Xiong Fuxi Building Named after the first president of Shanghai Theatre Academy, Xiong Fuxi, it was originally a teaching building and now serves as administrative offices. The architectural style is simple and dignified, featuring characteristics of the Republic of China era, witnessing the early art education history of the academy. 3. Experimental Theatre (Duanjun Theatre) Built in the 1950s and named after alumnus Zhu Duanjun, it is an important teaching and practice venue for the academy, combining historical significance with modern stage technology. 📝Note tips: Campus visits require a Mainland China ID card or an appointment~