Artists from Canada, Europe, and China Unite to Reimagine Chinese Civilization Through Musical Theatre
By Shibo
VANCOUVER, BC — Seek!, an original musical collaboratively created by artists from Canada, Europe, and China, will make its world premiere on Sunday, August 9, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre (950 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver).
Produced by BoToCo Metaverse Community, with support from the Aliza Arts Association, Seek! draws inspiration from ancient Chinese civilization and mythology while blending musical theatre, traditional Chinese storytelling (pingshu), Chinese folk music, electronic composition, and contemporary stage technology. The production aims to explore new ways of presenting Chinese cultural heritage to international audiences.
Rather than presenting history or mythology in a conventional way, Seek! offers a contemporary interpretation of the origins of Chinese civilization. Centered on the theme of “seeking,” the musical intertwines the modern world with the distant past, connecting myth, history, reality, and the future. Through this narrative, the creative team hopes to inspire audiences to reflect on cultural identity, the continuity of civilization, and humanity’s relationship with the world.
An International Creative Collaboration
The production brings together an international team of artists from three continents.
Swedish artist Johan Stjernholm serves as Director and Artistic Director while also contributing choreography and costume design. Canadian stage director Sammo Hueng (Huang Heping) joins as Associate Director. The original score is composed collaboratively by Tygger Zhang, Simon Kratz, Johan Stjernholm, and Otto Schroeter, reflecting a creative partnership between European and North American composers.
The script is jointly written by Sammo Hueng, Liu Xuechun, Johan Stjernholm, and Qingqiu Miaomiao, combining Chinese cultural themes with the dramatic structure and storytelling techniques of contemporary international musical theatre.
Behind the scenes, the production team includes professionals from Canada, Europe, and China specializing in directing, music, lighting, multimedia, scenic design, costume design, and photography, making Seek! a truly cross-cultural and multidisciplinary artistic collaboration.
Two Intangible Cultural Heritage Traditions at the Heart of the Story
A defining feature of Seek! is its integration of two important elements of China’s intangible cultural heritage.
The first is rammed-earth construction (banzhu), an ancient building technique dating back thousands of years and widely used during the Shang Dynasty. The production incorporates historical characters and stories associated with the Shang civilization to highlight this remarkable engineering tradition.
The second is Pingshu, the traditional Chinese art of dramatic storytelling. A professional storyteller serves as a narrative guide throughout the musical, using the distinctive style of pingshu to connect scenes and merge traditional Chinese performing arts with contemporary musical theatre.
According to the creative team, audiences are invited not only to enjoy a theatrical performance but also to experience the renewed vitality of Chinese traditional culture on the modern stage.
The musical score represents another innovative aspect of the production.
A live ensemble combines electronic synthesizers with traditional Chinese instruments including the guzheng, erhu, dizi (bamboo flute), and Chinese drums. Together with cinematic orchestration, ambient sound design, and electronic music, these elements create a distinctive musical language that is both deeply rooted in Eastern aesthetics and contemporary in its sonic experience.
While cross-genre instrumentation has become increasingly common in international theatre, a fully integrated approach throughout an original musical remains relatively rare. Seek! aims to expand the possibilities of musical theatre orchestration while offering audiences a fresh and immersive listening experience.
A New Generation of Performers
As an original production, Seek! features a cast led by emerging young performers.
Musical theatre demands excellence in singing, acting, movement, dance, and stage performance. The creators hope these young artists will bring fresh energy to the production while providing a platform for the next generation of Chinese Canadian performing artists.
The production also involves numerous Vancouver-based artists and community organizations, including dance ensembles, spoken-word performers, dragon drum groups, and musicians, reflecting a strong spirit of community collaboration.
Interactive Premiere Experience
To enhance the audience experience, theatre doors will open at 6:30 p.m., allowing attendees to enjoy pre-show activities and prize draws before the performance begins.
Prizes include Together smart glasses, wines generously provided by Phantom Creek Estates Winery, and exclusive Seek! commemorative merchandise.
Venue: Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre
950 West 41st Avenue
Vancouver, BC
Looking Beyond the Premiere
According to the producers, the August 9 performance presents the first act of what will eventually become a full four-act musical. Upon completion, the team plans to submit the production to major international theatre festivals—including the Aranya Theatre Festival—and pursue touring opportunities around the world.
As global audiences increasingly embrace cross-cultural collaboration and contemporary interpretations of traditional heritage, Seek! seeks to combine Chinese mythology, traditional storytelling, intangible cultural heritage, and modern stage technology into a new model for original Chinese-language musical theatre on the international stage.
Whether viewed through the lens of international artistic collaboration, cultural innovation, or musical creativity, Seek! represents an ambitious exploration of how Chinese civilization can be reimagined for today’s global audiences. Its Vancouver world premiere will offer the first opportunity for both audiences and theatre professionals to experience this original new work.