Musical's success reflects inclusivity that is enduring brilliance of Shanghai

The 2025 Les Misérables shows in Shanghai have been more than a commercial success. They are a testimony to how much the city's vitality hinges on cultural engagement, inclusivity and artistic exchanges. Long known as China's most outward-looking metropolis, cultural inclusivity is not an accessory to the city's identity — it is one of its driving forces.

The concert's box-office performance says it all: over 100,000 tickets sold, a seat-filling rate exceeding 100 percent — extra seats were added as people were standing in line overnight to get tickets — and revenue nearing 90 million yuan ($12.66 million). The first show was staged on Nov 4 and performances run until Dec 28. These numbers reflect not just the enduring pull of Victor Hugo's story, but also the maturity of Shanghai's cultural scene.

The show has attracted a diverse audience, from "post-2000" musical fans to longtime theater-goers, with nearly half coming from outside Shanghai. This trend of "traveling for culture" reveals the city's distinctive pull as a destination for meaningful artistic experiences.

When the musical first came to Shanghai in 2002, it was among the earliest Western mega-productions to be staged in the Chinese mainland. Its return — with Shanghai being the only mainland stop during its world tour — reflects both historical continuity and the dramatic growth of China's performing-arts landscape. It acknowledges Shanghai's early role in opening the door to global musical theater and underscores how deeply international culture has woven itself into the city's identity.

Inclusivity is visible in the production itself. Although concert-style, it integrates multimedia design, lighting and stage elements with a strong cast, preserving the emotional impact of the original while adapting it for local audiences. This hybrid format mirrors Shanghai's broader cultural ethos: experiment, adapt, integrate. The city thrives on such cross-cultural models.

At the policy level, the show's inclusion under the Shanghai Media Group's "See You in Shanghai" initiative reflects a deliberate strategy to position the city as a global center for theater and live performances. This residential live show initiative, launched last year, aims to use culture as a driver of soft power and urban vitality to attract audiences from across China and abroad.

The blending of tourism, entertainment and urban branding demonstrates Shanghai's belief that cultural inclusivity enhances both global reputation and everyday life. When major international productions flourish here, they reaffirm the city's identity as a confident, outward-looking metropolis.

Inclusivity is not just about importing foreign shows; it is about fostering cultural exchanges. Les Misérables brings international artists, creative standards and audiences to have a dialogue with local institutions and people. These interactions enrich the city's cultural ecosystem, inspire local artists and raise expectations of quality. They allow Shanghai to refine its artistic standards while maintaining its own distinct voice.

In the end, the triumph of Les Misérables is not simply the triumph of a beloved musical but also the triumph of a city that understands culture as a living, evolving fabric woven from many strands.

Shanghai has always shown its best face when standing at the crossroads of the world, absorbing influences while radiating its own character. The musical's success in the city reaffirms this truth: a city's vitality grows in proportion to its ability to bridge different cultures.

Shanghai showcases China to the world by continuing to build international bridges — welcoming stories, voices and audiences from afar. Les Misérables proves that when a city embraces cultural diversity, it doesn't dilute its identity; it amplifies it. And in that amplification lies the enduring brilliance of Shanghai.