A show depicting ancient Greece's most enduring myth through the use of horses and state-of-the-art special effects begins a half-year residency at the Bird's Nest beginning today, Friday, August 4.
Troy: An Epic Horse Show is a large-scale theater production set to thrill Beijing audiences with a combination of equestrian performances, drama, acrobatics, dance and eight IMAX screens.
A $45 million production that has been three years in the making, Troy will feature a stable of 72 horses that have been shipped in from Europe after a year's worth of training. The horses range from miniature-sized all the way up to the world's largest, the Shire.
To showcase the horses, a special stage has been built at the Olympic stadium. Requiring three months to build, the stage allows audiences an unobstructed 270-degree field of view to the spectacle, occupying a total space of 27,000 square meters.
Featuring an international cast from 12 different countries that include Camille Pless as the titular Helen of Troy, the show also features the talents of Italian costumer Simona Morresi who has designed for the Estonian National Opera.
Despite the familiarity of its source material, Troy's Chinese producers want its audience to know that they will be watching something completely new.
"The most important thing is that the show is original, not imported,"said producer Xu Yan. "Although the story is foreign, the whole show is original."
Featuring a dressage performance that will see horses dance, kneel, and rear on two legs, Xu said Troy is a coming together of two different worlds. "This is neither a horse performance nor a mere human performance. It is a performance of the unity of man and horse."
What will Troy actually look like? Behind the scenes footage show trainers practicing horse choreography while this one portrays how audiences will see the show.
Here's some some concept art:
And here's how training has been going at the Shunyi transway International Equestrian Club:
Troy's producers say the show provides an unparalleled experience. Director Liu Xiao promised audiences a "vicarious experience" while Xu said the show is "the ultimate piece of art."
Even if the show is as good as they say, it won't come cheap. VIP tickets to Troy cost RMB 1,280, while the least expensive come in at RMB 180. Large viewing rooms are available for RMB 38,880 per performance.
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E-mail: charlesliu1@qq.com