(Yicai Global) June 1 -- Shanghai staged its first offline show in 127 days as the Covid-19 pandemic eases, with seating curbed at around 30 percent, in line with rules on disease control and prevention.

SAIC Shanghai Culture Square in the eastern megacity’s center re-opened with a musical medley from May 29 to May 30.

Shanghai halted all shows in the city on Jan. 24 because of Covid-19.

The price of tickets for the first show was CNY80 (USD11.20), Zhang Jie, the general manager of Shanghai Culture Square, told Yicai Global. Only 481 tickets sold under the limit. The theater has nearly 2,000 seats. The income from the two shows was CNY58,720 (USD8,227.20), whereas the cost for a high-quality musical’s production usually tops CNY10 million (USD1.4 million).

Shanghai PG Theater and Great Theatre of China have also announced the restart of their first performances.

Chinese playhouses are now seeking new models, including outdoor theaters, to cope with cost pressures stemming from these occupancy limits.

Restarting without regard for income and expenditures would not have been possible without its sponsor SAIC’s support, Zhang added. Most theaters now reopening are state-backed, a sector insider anonymously told Yicai Global. Private ones can barely cover their costs under current restrictions.

The house wants to resume shows as soon as possible, even if it means swallowing a loss, noted Fei Yuanhong, deputy general manager of SAIC Shanghai Culture Square. “Our shows are running smoothly at 30 percent occupancy, setting audience’s minds at ease with the Covid-19 pandemic control and prevention efforts we’ve made, and the occupancy limit will gradually climb to 50, then 70 percent,” Fei added.

The theater is also devising new performance styles, Fei explained. It will set up outdoor stages this month in the city’s green spaces to hold music festivals and fashion shows.

It will also screen stage plays and art movies in high definition, Fei said, as displaying shows on screen is far cheaper than staging live ones.

Editors: Dou Shicong, Ben Armour