Recently, the children's musical The Elephant Travels Northward, created by Yunnan Arts University (YNAU) and supported by several national and provincial art funds, was invited to perform at the 12th China-ASEAN (Nanning) Theatre Week.
A key highlight of the 3rd China-ASEAN (Nanning) Cultural Month, the Theatre Week gathered outstanding troupes and artists from China and ASEAN countries. Eleven art groups from eight ASEAN countries—Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Malaysia—joined 29 premier theater companies from 13 Chinese provinces in Nanning. Together, they staged 25 performances that showcased the diverse charm and contemporary spirit of theatrical arts.
Deeply rooted in Yunnan, The Elephant Travels Northward chronicles a metaphorical northward journey to explore timeless themes of life, homeland, and cultural convergence. The production seamlessly weaves the region's ethnic customs, rainforest ecology, and humanistic reflections into its stagecraft. Since its creation, the musical has attracted widespread attention, receiving grants from the 2023 China National Arts Fund for Large-Scale Stage Works, the 2025 China National Arts Fund for Communication and Promotion, and the 2024 Yunnan Arts Fund for Communication and Promotion. It was also featured at the 8th China Campus Theater Festival, winning the Excellent Repertoire Award and Campus Star Award, and took home the Outstanding Director Award and the Outstanding Screenwriter Award at the 17th Yunnan Provincial New Drama Exhibition. These accolades underscore the widespread industry and public recognition of its artistic and social value.
Chinese opera boasts a profound heritage, while ASEAN theater is rich and diverse. Bridging the two, the China-ASEAN (Nanning) Theatre Week has become a vital platform for regional cultural exchange. It enables China and ASEAN countries to showcase, study, and draw inspiration from each other's theatrical arts, ultimately strengthening traditional friendships and advancing cross-cultural dialogue. As a vessel for bringing Yunnan culture to the global stage, the musical used its unique artistic expression at this international theatrical event to convey Yunnan's diverse ethnic heritage and ecological philosophy, fostering cultural and artistic exchange between China and ASEAN countries.
Following its debut at the Theatre Week, The Elephant Travels Northward embarked on a cross-provincial tour. Staging exchange performances at prominent institutions like Guangxi University and Guilin University of Technology, it engaged in deep dialogue with students, inspiring them to reflect on ecological conservation and cultural heritage.
