Younger generations keep live shows in demand

The development of Chinese performing arts was promoted with the reform and opening-up. At first, State-owned institutions dominated the market, and then more private companies were encouraged to join. By now, the country has about 10,000 performing groups, about 10,000 brokerage firms and 1,800 professional theaters, whose number is growing every year, according to Pan Yan, secretary-general of the China Association of Performing Arts.

However, the number of high-quality products is limited compared with more developed markets, she says.

"Good products should meet artistic standards and have market value. Stories that reflect real life can resonate with the public.

"Producers should go deep into people's daily lives and study the preferences of target audiences before beginning work on a production. The themes and the patterns of performances should also be diversified and innovative to meet growing demand.

"All categories in the performing arts segment have shown much space to grow, which can be driven by good plays that are well made and widely accepted by the audience. Good products can form a successful franchise, which can generate further profit," she says.

The ballet Never Closed Radio, for example, which tells the story of how some Chinese heroes contributed to the country at wartime, moved many people due to its production quality, she adds. Besides plays about heroes, stories that reflect the grassroots can also touch the hearts of the audience if told in a proper way.