When the first notes of Michael Jackson's music sounded at the Pingshan Performing Arts Center in Shenzhen, some audience members traveled hundreds of kilometers to attend the event. Among them was Yang Yan, who flew in from Chengdu, located in southwestern China, specifically to see the show 'Can You Feel It'—a West End production from London dedicated to the music and performances of Michael Jackson.
Yang shared her impressions: 'This is the first time I have traveled to another city just to watch a show. I trust the quality of the production and wanted to hear Michael Jackson's classics, as well as see the stage design and choreography.'
The performances in Shenzhen mark the premiere of the production in Southern China, after it had already visited several other cities across China. The team behind the show viewed Shenzhen as an opportunity to find a new audience in one of China's most dynamically developing megacities.
Phil Watts, the production's general manager, noted: 'Shenzhen is a new city, and 'Can You Feel It' is a new show. I felt these two elements complemented each other well. When we saw this theater, we thought it was the perfect place to present the show to Southern China.'
Growing Audience for International Productions
China's demand for live performances continues to rise. According to data from the China Performing Arts Association, the country's performance market generated revenue of 83.72 billion yuan (about $11.6 billion) in 2025, which is 5.19% more than the previous year. Musical theatre proved to be one of the most successful categories: box office revenue increased by 7.55% compared to last year, and the number of spectators grew by over 10%.
However, for international producers, the changes are not only about market size. Watts emphasized that the Chinese audience has become more demanding regarding content selection, a trend facilitated by social media and broader exposure to foreign productions.
John Marr, musical director of 'Can You Feel It', reported that the reaction during the tour of China surprised the team. He stated: 'The reaction was extraordinary. Michael Jackson's music is popular worldwide, but I know it holds a special place in the hearts of many Chinese people.' He added that people remain in the theater after the performance ends, singing along to the music playing as they exit.
Wu Pengfei, director of the Pingshan Performing Arts Center, noted the growing interest in international productions among audiences in Shenzhen and the wider Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. However, attracting visitors to the theater is only the beginning. Wu explained that visiting Pingshan is not just about watching a show; visitors can stay in local hotels, explore the surroundings, and combine culture with tourism.
This trend reflects a broader shift in cultural consumption in China, where concerts, theatrical performances, and festivals are increasingly integrated with travel, dining, and other leisure activities. For Shenzhen, hosting international productions in locations outside the traditional city center also helps distribute these expenditures across different districts and diversify the city's cultural offerings.
Behind the scenes, Chinese technical specialists work side-by-side with the international touring crew. Xu Yu, Deputy Head of Lighting and Video for 'Can You Feel It', is one of the two Chinese members of the touring team. Her role demonstrates the effort required to move an international production from one Chinese city to another. Touring shows impose specific technical requirements on lighting, video, sound, and scenography, yet each venue presents a different physical and technical environment.
Xu noted: 'In this tour, the Chinese teams bring enormous experience, especially in large-scale operations and rapid adaptation to the demands of major venues and dynamic productions. At the same time, the foreign team brings different approaches to production planning, documentation, communication, and maintaining consistency throughout the international tour. We are constantly learning from each other and finding the best way to collaborate.'