A century-old building near the Bund has reopened as an immersive theater space combining live performance, virtual reality and stories of old Shanghai.

The Reve Xinhua · Digital Broadway officially debuted yesterday at 43 Yuanmingyuan Rd, with a plaque-unveiling performance marking the opening. It is described as the Bund area's first immersive VR theater and entertainment complex.

The venue occupies the former Wantai Building, built in 1916 and once home to Shenchang Trading Company. The historic building has now been adapted into a space for digital theater and cultural experiences.

Its first resident production, Rock-a-Bye, Shanghai 1995, takes audiences back to a Shanghai lane neighborhood in 1995. The experience begins with live actors interacting with visitors before leading them upstairs into a VR world, where they can walk through the fictional Chunfengli neighborhood and meet the characters again.

The venue is also planned as a multi-production resident theater, with new shows introduced over time to keep the program fresh. Exhibitions and other cultural activities are also expected to be held in the space.

If you go

Date: Open daily; 12am-8:30pm;

Venue: The Reve Xinhua · Digital Broadway

Address: 43 Yuanmingyuan Road 圆明园路43号

Current resident production: Rock-a-Bye, Shanghai 1995(摇啊摇1995)

Tel: 134-8269-7706

Ticket: 168 yuan