Majestic Theatre

Majestic Theatre

The Majestic Theatre is a protected cultural heritage site of Shanghai.

The Majestic Theatre, MAJESTICTHEATRE, is located at No. 66 Jiangning Road in Shanghai. After the liberation, it was once renamed Beijing Cinema and reverted to its original name in early 1985. Built in the 30th year of the Republic of China (1941), it was designed by architect Fan Wenzhao and features a two-story reinforced concrete frame structure. At the time of its completion, it was named “Majestic,” originally intended to convey the meaning of “magnificent splendor and flawless beauty.” On its opening day, October 15, it was hailed by people at home and abroad as the “No. 1 in Asia.” The theatre has a total of 1,261 seats.

Initially funded by the Lianyi Co., Ltd., the Majestic was the company’s third theatre following Beijing Theatre and Nanjing Theatre. Its chairman and general manager was He Tingran, and it was registered as an American business. The English name, Majestic Theatre, was chosen through a public naming contest. It opened in October of the 30th year of the Republic of China (1941) with the premiere of the American film “Majestic and Beautiful,” and was the first first-run cinema dedicated to Western films. In November 1954, it became a public-private joint venture, with Wang Rui serving as the public-sector manager. In 1956, it came under the administration of Xincheng District, and from May 1958, it was directly managed by the Municipal Bureau of Culture, transitioning into a venue for performances as well as film screenings. In 1966, it was renamed Beijing Cinema (it reverted to its original name in May 1985) and has been managed by the Municipal Performance Company since January 1985. Before the liberation, the Majestic occasionally hosted performances, such as the ten-day commercial comeback performance by Mei Lanfang after the victory of the War of Resistance, which caused a sensation. After the liberation, especially after being converted into a theatre, it became a large-scale comprehensive performance venue in the city, focusing on opera and dance drama. It also served as an important venue for receiving performing arts troupes from around the world. The Central Opera House, Beijing People's Art Theatre, and large groups from various provinces all performed here; many of the Shanghai Opera House’s operas and dance dramas premiered at this venue. In 1964, the Shanghai People's Huju Opera Troupe performed “Ludang Huozhong” (see the model opera “Shajiabang”) for six months, staging a total of 284 shows. In the early years after the liberation, the Majestic also briefly served as an important political venue in Shanghai. For example, the First Session of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress was held here in August 1954; on February 4, 1955, Premier Zhou Enlai of the State Council delivered an important speech on the transformation of intellectuals to cadres attending the National Provincial and Municipal Party Secretaries Conference.

The building features an American modern style but incorporates elements of Art Deco. It covers an area of 2,612 square meters, with a construction area of 5,416 square meters, and has a two-story auditorium with 1,328 seats. It is fully equipped with stage facilities and air conditioning. In the 1980s, it was the first to construct and use a 70-square-meter hydraulic orchestra pit. The audience lounge adopts a shared space design spanning the first and second floors, creating a spacious, elegant, and grand atmosphere. In 1989, it was listed as a protected cultural heritage site among Shanghai’s modern outstanding buildings. The entrance foyer is designed as a large circular hall connected to the interior lounge and ticket office. The building’s exterior features straight long windows, and the lounge is spacious. The entrance hall, balcony, staircase, and passageways are all functionally clear and logically arranged. The stairs and flooring are made of terrazzo material, with uniquely colored columns and walls, showcasing the design techniques of modern architecture.

The Majestic Theatre is a modern outstanding building of Shanghai. Its elegant and unique style blends the essence of modern and classical architectural beauty. The grand circular tower at the entrance is imposing, the large crystal chandeliers are dazzling, the two light fountains shine brilliantly, the bronze sculptures are exquisitely crafted, and the audience lounge is visually rich, solemn, and magnificent. Its architectural style has won the admiration and favor of faculty and students from prestigious university architecture departments across the country and has been designated as a “Protected Unit of Modern Outstanding Architecture.”

The Majestic Theatre enjoys a certain reputation both domestically and internationally. It is a comprehensive theatre in Shanghai primarily dedicated to large-scale opera, ballet, and music and dance performances, and serves as a major venue for cultural exchange between China and other countries. Before and after the liberation, opera master Mei Lanfang and world-renowned ballet dancer Galina Ulanova both performed classic works here. In recent years, over 60 art performance troupes from more than 20 provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions, and military units under the direct administration of the Central Ministry of Culture, as well as groups from 17 countries and regions in Europe, America, Asia, and Oceania, have all performed at the Majestic.

In 1989, it was announced as a protected cultural heritage site of Shanghai.