The recently released 2025 Shanghai Time-Honored Brand List has included Shanghai Drama Arts Center Co., Ltd. (SDAC), marking it as the first state-owned performing arts institution in Shanghai to receive this honor. Located on Anfu Road, a vibrant cultural hub, the center has long been regarded as a modern and fashionable landmark. However, its origins date back to the 1950s, embodying over 70 years of rich historical and cultural heritage. As a key representative of Shanghai-style theater, it has played a vital role in preserving, developing, and innovating regional drama traditions, truly deserving its status as a "Shanghai Time-Honored Brand."
The history of Shanghai Drama Arts Center traces back to wartime rescue performance troupes during the Anti-Japanese War. In 1937, following the outbreak of the August 13th Battle of Shanghai, theater and film professionals formed rescue troupes to support anti-Japanese propaganda through art. These groups evolved through various stages—including anti-enemy performance troupes, the Ninth Performance Troupe, and the East China Cultural Troupe No. 2—before officially establishing the Shanghai People's Art Theater in 1950. In 1957, under the initiative of veteran dramatists such as Xiong Foxi, the Shanghai Theater Academy Experimental Drama Troupe was founded. It was later renamed the Shanghai Youth Drama Troupe in 1962 after coming under the leadership of the Shanghai Municipal Culture Bureau. Both the Shanghai People's Art Theater and the Shanghai Youth Drama Troupe became influential forces in Shanghai and Chinese theater, each with distinct artistic styles.
On January 23, 1995, the two troupes officially merged with government approval to form the Shanghai Drama Arts Center, Shanghai's only state-owned drama company. In 2000, the Drama Tower at 288 Anfu Road was completed, further solidifying its status as a cultural landmark.
Over its 76-year history, SDAC has witnessed and contributed to the significant evolution of Chinese theater, aligning closely with the nation's cultural development. Historical records show interactions between leaders such as Zhou Enlai and Mao Zedong with early company directors like Huang Zuolin and Xiong Foxi.
As a custodian of Shanghai-style theater, SDAC has produced nearly 400 stage works that reflect both national characteristics and local cultural features. Productions range from the epic ambition of "Shang Yang" to the dark absurdity of "The Scholar and the Executioner," and from the Shanghai saga "Song of Everlasting Sorrow" to the slice-of-life drama "Under Shanghai's Eaves." These works not only celebrate Shanghai's cultural identity but also respond thoughtfully to the spirit of their times.
Today, SDAC has grown into a comprehensive cultural enterprise involved in project planning, artistic creation, performance production, venue management, and arts education. It operates multiple performance spaces, including the Drama Tower Art Theater, Drama Salon, D6 Space, Shanghai International Dance Center Theater, and Jasmine Theater. Hosting over 600 performances annually, it attracts 330,000 offline viewers and generates an average annual revenue of 142 million yuan over the past three years, establishing itself as a cornerstone of Shanghai's performing arts scene.
Since its inception, the Drama Tower has maintained a busy schedule—featuring new plays monthly, rotating shows weekly, and staging performances daily—cultivating the cultural tagline, "Watch drama on Anfu Road," and making theater-going a lifestyle choice for many.
Regarding its recognition as a time-honored brand, SDAC leadership expressed that it is both an honor and a responsibility. This designation not only acknowledges the center's long history but also affirms its social and industrial significance as a cultural icon. Looking ahead, SDAC plans to leverage this recognition to further explore the cultural essence of Shanghai-style theater, enhance the "Shanghai Culture" brand, and balance tradition with innovation. The center remains committed to promoting the accessibility and sustainable development of drama arts. It prioritizes social impact through initiatives such as creating China's first guide-dog-friendly theater and extending drama therapy programs to communities, schools, and prisons, aiming to enrich lives through the power of theater.
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