More discounted tickets available for Shanghai residents

At the beginning of 2012, the Shanghai government announced it had set up a special fund to support "public-spirited" performances in the city. The purpose, as it is claimed, is to develop the city's cultural life, to raise general awareness of the arts, and to strengthen the city's "soft power."

The fund will effectively subsidize tickets for the type of productions that would normally be out of reach for many of the city's residents earning modest salaries.

Opera troupes, theatrical agencies and other performance-related organizations are being encouraged to put on such performances on a regular basis. The first 10 theaters involved in the initiative include the Shanghai Grand Theater, the Shanghai Oriental Art Center, the Shanghai Culture Plaza Theater and the Tianchan Beijing Opera Center Yifu Theater.

These venues have said they will present at least two "public-spirited" performances every month.

These venues have agreed to sell at least 5 percent of all tickets for selected shows at no more than 80 yuan ($12.50). This project will run until at least 2015.

The Global Times has visited three of the theaters to see how the projects work.

Shanghai Grand Theater

Because the discounted tickets sold surprisingly well in the last few months of 2011, the Shanghai Grand Theater has decided to regularize this ticketing program, making such tickets available on the third Sunday of every month, for performances that will take place during the following month.

The tickets go on sale at 10 am and can only be purchased in person at the theater's box office booth. Each person is allowed to buy two tickets for each performance after showing his or her ID card or passport.

The list of the performances are revealed in advance on the theater's official website, (www.shgtheatre.com/en/main.jsp) and also on its microblog (weibo.com/shgtheatre).

During the next three months, people will be able to enjoy discounts on a number of shows here including the drama, Four Generations under One Roof as well as The Red Rose and the White Rose starring renowned performers from the Beijing-based National Theater of China.

This month these tickets will be available on February 19. Future performances in the scheme include Charles Dutoit and the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra Concert as well as Sergei Prokofiev's The Love for Three Oranges performed by the Geneva Opera House. The ticketing for these two shows starts on March 18.

And to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Beijing People's Art Theater, the venue will present Bosom Friend, The Wilderness, Wotou Compound, I Love Peach Blossom, and Relationship, the discount ticketing for all of which starts on April 15.

Add: 300 People's Avenue 人民大道300號

Call 6386-8686 for details

Shanghai Oriental Art Center

The Shanghai Oriental Art Center has chosen the first Saturday of each month to sell its "public-spirited" discounted tickets. This also happens to be the venue's monthly "member's day."

To date the theater has already sold in excess of 10,000 tickets under 80 yuan for more than 20 performances in the last six months.

Outside of the "public-spirited" project, the venue also has a season of Saturday Brunch Concerts which runs until December 7, 2012. Tickets are priced at 30, 50 and 80 yuan per person, depending on the seating, and they are also only available on member's day.

Information about upcoming performances is uploaded onto the theater's microblog, (weibo.com/shoac) and its official website (http://en.shoac.com.cn/) one week before member's day.

Theater staff told the Global Times that in the latter half year of 2012, discounted tickets will be available for more of the regular concerts. The venue estimates the total number of discounted tickets this year will reach 35,000; this is on top of the earmarked 50,000 cheap tickets that will be provided for the Saturday Brunch Concerts.

Add: 425 Dingxiang Road 丁香路425號

Call 6854-1234 for details

Shanghai Concert Hall

One of the "public-spirited" programs at the Shanghai Concert Hall is the "Afternoon Tea Music" series of concerts. These events are scheduled from midday to 1 pm every day (except for weekends and national holidays) in the south hall. The program invites young musicians and students to perform.

The concerts will be mix of many distinctive styles, such as folk, jazz and chamber music. And every concert will have its own special theme. The concerts will cost only 10 yuan per person and during the performances, tea and coffee will be served.

Afterwards, audiences will have the chance to chat face to face with the musicians.

Add: 523 Yan'an Road East 延安東路523號

Call 6386-2836 for detail