Original stage play "Murder on the Orient Express" to tour China

BEIJING, June 26 (Xinhua) -- The original stage play "Murder on the Orient Express," adapted from one of Agatha Christie's most iconic detective masterpieces, will be touring China from October to December this year.

The production is co-produced by Fiery Angel, an international company based in London's West End, and Shanghai-based Chinese company RTS Entertainment.

Following its premiere in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2024 and subsequent tour across the UK and Ireland, the play will make stops in 11 cities across China, according to RTS Entertainment.

The legendary locked-room murder mystery was brought to life by playwright Ken Ludwig. Performed by a British cast, the production will feature immersive staging that recreates the luxurious train setting, RTS Entertainment said.

Last year, RTS Entertainment introduced the original stage play adapted from another Agatha Christie classic, "And Then There Were None," to Chinese audiences. The production drew an impressive audience of over 63,000 viewers across 13 Chinese cities.

China's performance arts market is growing rapidly. According to data from the China Association of Performing Arts, there were 251,700 commercial performance events nationwide in the first half of 2024, marking a year-on-year increase of nearly 30.2 percent. The total number of viewers exceeded 79.1 million during the period, up by 27.1 percent year on year. ■