ABSTRACT
This book examines a 70-year period from 1950 to 2020 during which huge change took place in society, in the performing arts and in performing arts buildings. The Han Show Theatre in Wuhan, Central China, is an outstanding example of this phenomenon. Cirque de Soleil was founded in Quebec, Canada in 1984 initially as a group of street performers and then developing shows presented in a big top. Cirque partnered with hotels and casinos in Las Vegas and subsequently other cities and countries to create permanent shows in purpose-built or adapted theatres. Wuhan is known as the city of rivers; it lies at the confluence of the Yangtze and the Han Rivers. In the centre of the city, there is a big lake with a surrounding park that looks like an oasis. Many festivals take place on the occasion of the cherry flourishing, the autumn flourishing or the plum flourishing in winter.
