'Peking' behind the scenes at London’s biggest Chinese opera show

The China National Peking Opera Company brought two performances to London’s Sadler’s Wells in October – and Sino got a backstage pass.

In this video, we ask Peking opera performer Li Shengsu how she gets ready for a big show, and get a rare glimpse into some of the behind-the-scenes preparation that goes into this complex art form.

It’s the third time that the China National Peking Opera Company has brought shows to London, following productions in 2015 and 2016.

Peking Opera, one of China’s most influential styles of stage art, has been around for over 200 years in China. Performers often train from a young age in a wide range of stage arts including singing, dancing, acting, applying makeup and performing acrobatics.