2015 » China » Performing Space

Cultural, Natural and Dramatic Triune Theater – Caolu Theater

This is an experimental theater. This is a new drama dream. The Caolu Theatre is a unique form of a Caolu-shaped building. It is not in the bustling city center. It is located in the mountains away from the city.

The Caolu Theatre is a tailor-made theater for China’s first large-scale live-action drama, Caolu Zhuge Liang. It is the only large-scale bamboo and grass theater in the world. The theater as a whole is in a perfect ring shape, an open amphitheater. Naturally, this means that any performance must use a sound amplification system. The Caolu Theatre is surrounded by 15 bamboo-grass ladders. The play area consists of 10 Caolu buildings that can be formed into a 180-degree arc. The beautiful natural mountain backdrop has become an integral part of the theater; the scenography and performance have been extended onto the hill. The central play area is 28 meters in diameter and includes a large pool and a lifting platform.

The circular pool is surrounded by two waterways and an outside lake. The 128 independent electric projection screens can be changed at any time according to the projection needs.

The audience area (including the control room) is a four-floor Caolu-style building seating 1,500 people. The third and fourth floor of auditorium feature a tearoom and a sightseeing space for visitors. The auditorium and stage area keep exactly the same Caolu style. The building has an important tourist value.

The Caolu Theatre is 23 meters high, the building perimeter is 70 meters in diameter. The theater exterior uses bamboo, wood and grass. The theater‘s double curved dome structure offers simple elegance and style (large-scale Oriental classical architectural style). Besides showing the play Caolu Zhuge Liang, perhaps one day its elegant and unique charm can host a small world theater festival.