SHENZHEN audiences will be treated to a dramatic feast with the upcoming autumn/winter performance season of Shenzhen Poly Theater in Nanshan District.

“Crazy TV Station,” a popular drama produced by Taiwanese thespians Wang Weizhong and Xie Nianzu, is scheduled to kick off the performance season Sunday.

Wang is known as the “godfather” of variety shows in Taiwan, and Xie is a well-known producer. The drama was first staged in Shenzhen in 2010. It features a lot of observational humor about Taiwan’s entertainment circles.

Audiences will also get a glimpse of Taiwan’s media, and political and social climates in the upcoming theater season.

Contrasting with the season’s hilarious opener, its final show will be a moving romantic drama. The performance season will end with “Rhinoceros in Love” on Feb. 2, 2013.

The long-running drama tells a simple love story. A man falls in love with a woman and does everything he can for her. The main character, Ma Lu, has a paranoid personality. In pursuit of love, Ma does many things that seem illogical or even impossible. But, as the drama shows, it is often the most stubborn people who make a positive difference to the world.

The performance season offers more than comedy and drama.

Musicals, concerts, galas and ballets starring renowned artists will likely give audiences difficult choices about which performances to attend.

Wan Fang, an award-winning female singer from Taiwan, will perform at the theater Sept. 20. Her signature songs include “Endless Love.”

Another pop singer from the mainland, Yang Kun, who is known for his raucous and magnetic voice, will perform Jan. 4. Yang has recently enjoyed heavy media exposure due to his role as one of the judges on “The Voice of China,” a popular singing competition produced by Zhejiang TV.

While pop fans will be delighted, there is also plenty for fans of the fine arts.

Russian Philharmonic Orchestra is scheduled to stage a New Year’s Eve concert Dec. 31, featuring a performance by renowned Russian soprano Natalia Kumkova.

Audiences’ passion will be ignited Dec. 12 and 14 by “Riverdance,” an acclaimed show featuring a combination of Irish dancing, Russian folk dance, modern dance and flamenco.

In addition, American magicians Rick Wilcox and his wife will present a variety of magical tricks and illusions Nov. 23 and 25. The performances also will include Jorgos Katsaros, a well-known magician from Greece. The trio will combine movies and magic to dazzle audiences.

Russian Ballet Theater will perform the classic “Swan Lake” on Dec. 4 and 5, and a military acrobatic troupe from Guangzhou will give a different version of “Swan Lake,” with tumbling and acrobatics, on Jan. 10 and 11, 2013.

Children are not neglected by the season, which also includes the fairy-tale drama “Aesop’s Fables” on Jan. 26 and 27.

Ticket prices for the season’s performances will be between 80 and 1,280 yuan (US$13-202).

(Martin Li)