Theater for the senses

"We have noticed how people like sharing pictures on social media and that can be good publicity for the show," she says. "What we have to do is to give clear instructions and make sure photography is only welcome in that particular period."

Just Play It is the story of Hsu's growth as a young man with visual difficulty, and his development as a musician, under the guidance of Prof. Vaughan. Ting wrote the play based on conversations with the teacher and student.

Hsu and Vaughan are on stage presenting their own story. As Hsu can't see the stage or the audience, Ting thought of introducing aroma diffusion, to enrich the experience for him, as well as the audience.

Four specially designed aroma oils will be used during the show, to reflect the flow of emotions and change of atmosphere.

Murder on Air, similar to Just Play It, is also about the audio experience, but actors will be seen on stage, literally reading the story in a sitting position.

Some actors with Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center will be working alongside the voice actors in the play. They often have to resist the impulse to perform with their limbs, and focus on the "telling" of the story instead.

"A live radio play on stage, this is a new experiment. It is the first time it has happened in China, but it has been done in Britain before," says Tong Xin, producer of the show and head of the Mouse Trap Theater Workshop. The success of many Christie plays by the workshop in recent years has gained audience belief in the new project. The first few performances have already sold out weeks in advance.

More than 20 years ago, China dubbed all foreign films and TV shows in Chinese pronunciation. That practice has made the voices of Tong Zirong and his colleagues highly recognizable and widely loved all over the country.

Murder on Air

7:30 pm, Tue-Sat, 2 pm, Sat-Sun, Dec 19-Jan 18, 2015, Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center –Drama Salon, 3F, 288 Anfu Road, Xuhui district, 021-6473-0123

300 yuan

安福路288號，上海話劇藝術中心

Just Play It

7:15 pm, Jan 3-4, Oriental Art Center-Opera Hall, 425 Dingxiang Road, Pudong New Area, 021-6854-1234

80-580 yuan

浦東丁香路425號，東方藝術中心