Sydney

SYDNEY, NOV 17—NTDTV is delighted to present our Chinese New Year Global Gala at the beautiful State Theatre. The State Theatre, designed as the "Palace of Dreams", has for over 70 years been at the centre of Sydney's social and cultural community.

The history and architecture of this landmark theatre make it an outstanding venue to present our Gala, which honors the rich culture and traditions of both Chinese and Western societies. And so it seems most fitting that this grand location should be host to NTDTV's "Myths and Legends," which blends Chinese and Western performances into an energetic mix of song, dance, drama and humor, with a twist. While they dazzle with color and sound, the mythology conveyed through many of the performances opens a world of often forgotten Chinese culture to its audiences. The "Myths and Legends" presented provide a vehicle to reconnect Chinese people with their rich heritage, and westerners with a world of traditions unknown, but yet deeply moving.

As Rutang Chen, a world-class musician and last year's Artistic Director explained, “...the Chinese people had a culture for thousands of years that was very spiritual. The relationship between man, the world around him and the divine was of great importance to our ancestors. They showed respect to nature, had faith in Buddhas, Taos, etc., and stressed humbleness, virtue and morals. What’s known as ‘myths and legends’ today were really an essential part of our cultural heritage. And many aspects of the Chinese culture today still reflect that deeply rooted heritage.”

Mr. Chen went on to explain, “Our goal is not just to present an entertaining, eye-dazzling show—you can find those shows in plenty of other places. In addition to the entertainment, our Gala aims at bringing to our audience the essence, the true spirit of the Chinese culture expressed in the forms of performing arts. I hope that after the show our audience will go home with a deeper understanding and connection to the Chinese culture.”

The performances will be broadcast worldwide for an estimated audience of between 200-300 million viewers. We hope that you'll be one of the lucky ones who have a chance to enjoy the Gala in person, and be swept up in its song and story for many years to come.