THE Longma Studio Guoli Troupe, led by veteran actor and director Zhang Guoli, was launched in Pingshan District on Dec. 15. The troupe will draw on domestic and international theatrical resources for drama production, performance, training, and the promotion of theater culture.

The Culture, Media, Tourism, and Sports Bureau of Pingshan District signed a cooperation agreement with the troupe to help cultivate the district’s theater industry and promote Pingshan as Shenzhen’s eastern cultural hub. Zhang has also been appointed to the advisory committee of Pingshan’s cultural think tank.

Zhang said the team aims to establish a drama incubation base serving both the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the entire country. The troupe’s first production is already in preparation and expected to debut in 2026.

Since Longma Studio relocated to Pingshan in August 2024, the local theater scene has flourished, attracting numerous professionals and renowned artists. Early in 2024, the Pingshan-produced Chinese-language stage adaptation of “The Shawshank Redemption” drew attention as a groundbreaking work performed entirely in Chinese by a cast of foreign actors.

In September 2025, artists from Russia’s Vakhtangov Theatre visited Shenzhen Pingshan Changshou Dramaville for a cross-cultural exchange with local art enthusiasts. Exhibitions and drama workshops at the venue have also drawn residents and tourists, helping to boost nearby retail, hotel, and dining businesses.(Cao Zhen)