The musical The Lost Garden will receive its world premiere in Shanghai. Adapted from the short story The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde, the production was developed over five years by South Korean director and musician Soh June-young and his creative team using suggestions garnered from 266 people in 26 countries.

The result is a magical journey in which Wilde's themes are re-contextualized and brought to life by more than 20 dancers, singers, and performers. The Lost Garden will play in Shanghai three times over two days, June 8 and 9, at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, before embarking on a highly anticipated Asia tour.

Walls come down

The Lost Garden is the story of what happens when walls come down and hearts become open. The tale is set in and around a beautiful and fertile garden, the treasured domain of a lonely and ill-tempered giant. When this giant returns home from a long journey to find a group of children playing in his garden, he builds a wall to keep them out. Little does he know that this act will start a series of events that will change his life and teach him, and the children, meaningful lessons on love, friendship, and happiness. The Lost Garden is a tale for all ages and is perfect for children and the "young at heart."

"The Lost Garden creates a new world and a new environment for the themes and ideas of Oscar Wilde's beautiful story," said Soh. "The setting is Asia of the not-too-distant past, a place in which tradition is being challenged by new thoughts and ideas. The mystical garden of this story represents the childhood places of our ancestors. There was a time when children would ride over a hill on the back of a cow playing a willow pipe. This hill has been replaced by a new landscape, but it may be a good time to rediscover that lost garden of our ancestor's youth."

To bring this musical delight to the stage, Soh has assembled a talented team of international artists, drawn from the worlds of theater, jazz and cinema. The magical soundtrack is the work of American producer Jack Lee and Japanese arranger Norihito Sumitomo, who have crafted pieces that communicate grand themes with lyrical fun, and engaging melodies. Choreographer Elisa Petrolo from Italy and American stage designer Tom Lee also bring their considerable experience to the project, making The Lost Garden one of the highest-quality ensemble productions ever seen in Shanghai.

Visual feast

"We are extremely excited about bringing this musical and visual feast to Shanghai, so that Chinese audiences can be entertained and touched by this journey into a world of fantasy," said Soh. "We are confident that adults and children alike will be captivated by the story of The Lost Garden and will go home with a new appreciation for the magic of musical theater."

After its premiere in Shanghai, the show will continue its Asia tour, stopping in Tokyo, Bangkok and Seoul.

Date: June 8 and 9, 8 pm, June 9, 3 pm

Venue: Mercedes-Benz Arena

梅赛德斯-奔驰文化中心

Address: 1200 Expo Avenue

世博大道1200号

Tickets: 280 to 1,180 yuan

Call 5150-9199 for details