(Yicai Global) May 26 -- Cirque du Soleil, the world-famous Canadian circus troupe crippled by global coronavirus lockdowns, will return to the stage in China next month for its first performance since the pandemic started.

The world’s biggest contemporary circus producer will offer three weekly performances of The Land of Fantasy -- its resident show in Hangzhou, the capital of eastern Zhejiang province -- at the city’s state-of-the-art Suntiandy Theatre, it said via Weibo yesterday. The show is jointly produced with leading Chinese real estate developer Hangzhou Xintiandi Group.

Cirque du Soleil was forced to suspend all resident shows and international touring performances early this year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, bringing it to the brink of bankruptcy. The company was in talks with creditors in March and was considering filing for Chapter 11 protection, according to foreign media reports.

Ticket for the Hangzhou shows are already on sale and a cast of over 20 performers from 12 countries has already started on-site rehearsals, the Montreal-based entertainment company added.

Audience numbers will be limited in accordance with social distancing guidelines. All spectators must wear masks and carry with them valid identification cards and health codes. They will have their temperatures taken on entering the venue.

The Land of Fantasy Show, which debuted last August, will not be affected by the firm’s financial state as it was commissioned by Hangzhou Xintiandi which owns the rights, the developer said.

Editor: Kim Taylor