A long time ago, whether in town or in the countryside, Shengzhou people used to put up makeshift stages and invite opera troupes to perform at festivals, weddings, and other celebration ceremonies. Usually the performance lasted for three days, during which Shengzhou people could enjoy the beautiful aria and music of Yueju opera.

Woodcarvings on theatre stage in Shengzhou

Theatre stages in Shengzhou was first built in the early Ming Dynasty , and developed into the stages in open air, in temple, and in ancestral hall. These stages not only served as performance venues, but also combined trade, entertainment and sightseeing. It is said that performances were put on at some theatre stages both day and night. At that time, women were not allowed to walk into temples and ancestral halls, as a result they were also forbidden on the theatre stages. The only chance for actresses to be seen was to perform on makeshift stages, which were carelessly built with rice buckets, wood blocks, and tables.

The ancient theatre stages combined woodcarving, stonecarving and brickcarving, revealing the high level of folk craftsmanship in Shengzhou. Nowadays, the theatre stages in Shengzhou have become a tourist attraction for their high artistic value and the memories they carry.

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