Small Theater,
Wanping Theater

Built with an emphasis on modern appearance and facilities

The Wanping Theater was built in 1988 in the center of Shanghai, China, and was a busy movie theater in the city at the time. Due to the deterioration of the facility, the theater was renovated over a period of five years and it reopened in June 2021.
Its modern exterior, which resembles a fan slowly spreading out, gives out a sense of tranquility amidst the hustle and bustle of the city. Stepping inside, visitors are greeted by a large, elegant spiral staircase with a spacious and smooth curved surface.

The theater has a total floor area of 29,281 square meters, out of which 15,853 square meters is above ground and 13,428 square meters is below ground. The total floor area has tripled without any changes to the land area since it was built in 1988. The ground level has a 996-seat Grand Theater for large-scale plays and operas, and the basement has a 262-seat Small Theater. It also has a rehearsal hall, a multipurpose hall, an arts exhibition hall, a security office, a parking lot, and an equipment room.

Beautiful, comfortable and tranquil seats for appreciating the stage

The 262-seat Small Theater has a linear seating arrangement with straight rows of seats facing the stage. The seats are staggered, with the seats in the consecutive rows set a half-seat distance apart, to ensure a clear line of sight. Increasing step height at each row ensures that the line of sight is not obstructed by the seats in front, allowing the audience to enjoy a powerful stage performance.
The very first row has movable seats with casters that allow the chairs to be moved in and out according to the program. This allows the audience to enjoy the ambience in a limited space, and also makes it possible to use the stage more extensively for some programs. The chairs used from the front row onward are all high-back, Spacia seats. The comfortable seating and the barrier-free design enable users to stand up easily even if their hands are occupied, making any performance enjoyable for the audience. The seat's automatic flip back mechanism enables it to slowly retract to its original position when the user stands up, so there is no vibration or noise on leaving the seat.
Viewed from the stage, the design of the chairs with their narrowed backs makes each one stand out giving the feel of the audience to the performers. The geometric pattern of the walls of the Small Theater contrasts with the bright yellow upholstery of the chairs, giving the theater a futuristic feel.

Photo provider :Tongji Architectural Design (Group) Co.,LTD
Photographer : Ma Yuan

Facility Overview

The Wanping Theater stands out on the intersection of the Zhongshan South Road 2 and Wanping South Road, in the center of Shanghai, the heart of China's economy. The design incorporating the fan shape, a symbol of traditional Chinese performing arts and drama, is both traditional and novel. Originally completed in 1988, the Wanping Theater was closed for nearly five years for renovation and reopened in June 2021 as a new symbol of traditional performing arts in Shanghai.

Other Space

Back to list