Wizard of Oz puppet show to embrace children in Beijing

The Wizard of Oz is shown through an ancient Chinese form of puppetry. [Photo: provided to China Plus]

A classic story of western literature and Hollywood's Golden Age will be interpreted on a stage in Beijing this weekend using an ancient form of Chinese puppetry.

A troupe affiliated with an intangible cultural heritage protection center in southwest China's Chengdu city will stage the puppet shows on Saturday and Sunday.

The Wizard of Oz is shown through an ancient Chinese form of puppetry. [Photo: provided to China Plus]

The stage itself will be made of toy bricks and promises to be rich in colors. The bricks can be moved easily to reset each scene for Dorothy, the lead character in the play.

The show centers on an innocent farm girl who is whisked out of her mundane earthbound existence into a land of pure imagination.

L. Frank Baum's classic tale has been adapted into film, stage drama and TV shows.

The Wizard of Oz is shown through an ancient Chinese form of puppetry. [Photo: provided to China Plus]

It is an unprecedented experience for a puppet troupe in China to stage a western classic tale using traditional Chinese art.

According to the China National Theatre for Children, which invited the troupe to Beijing, the show is also embedded with a high level of interaction.

Additionally, a workshop will be held after the show, telling children how a puppet is made and the techniques related to the magical art of face-changing, an important subgenre of Chinese Sichuan opera.