Le Roi Soleil: the French court arrives in October
Le Roi Soleil (太阳王) runs 30 October–15 November. Producer Dove Attia and director-choreographer Kamel Ouali first brought the musical to the stage in 2005; Shanghai receives the 20th-anniversary revival. Its subject is Louis XIV, with court politics and the king’s relationships running through a story that begins during the Fronde rebellion.
The announced cast includes Emmanuel Moire as Louis XIV and Louis Delort as his brother. The production gives the season its grand French-court spectacle, with dance and costume central to the presentation. It is performed in French and lasts approximately 150 minutes.
Ludwig2 returns as a staged concert
Ludwig2 – The King is Back (路德维希二世：国王归来) follows on 2–9 December, with seven announced performances. This is a staged concert: singers, an ensemble and a symphony orchestra present the German-language work. Culture Square hosted this format in 2024; the return adds songs and scenes from the musical.
The story follows the Bavarian king’s devotion to art and Wagner, his building of Neuschwanstein and the political struggle surrounding him. Annemieke van Dam is announced as Empress Elisabeth and Alexander Kerbst as Dr Gudden. The running time is approximately 120 minutes.
Einstein has Chinese and English surtitles
Einstein – A Matter of Time (爱因斯坦：时间相对论), 12–20 December, is the most straightforward language choice here for an English-speaking visitor: the German performance explicitly advertises Chinese and English surtitles. It lasts approximately 160 minutes, including an interval.
Frank Wildhorn composed the score; Gil Mehmert wrote the book and directs. The drama follows Albert Einstein from his student years and relationship with Mileva Marić through scientific discovery, war and exile. Culture Square bills the engagement as the production’s Chinese debut.
Molière crosses the New Year
Molière, le spectacle musical (莫里哀) runs 30 December 2026–10 January 2027. Dove Attia’s musical biography uses rap, urban music and street dance to tell the playwright’s life. Ladislas Chollat directs, with choreography by Romain RB. Its musical language makes a lively companion to the royal court of Le Roi Soleil.
The French-language production lasts approximately 150 minutes. Yanis Richard is named in the title role; PETiTOM is announced for selected performances on 5–10 January. Casting varies by performance.
Dates, tickets and the theatre
All four play Culture Square’s Main Auditorium. Advertised evenings start at 19:30, Tuesday–Sunday; Le Roi Soleil, Einstein and Molière also list 14:00 weekend matinees. The individual booking calendar gives the actual performances. Advertised standard price ranges are 80–1,280 yuan for Le Roi Soleil and 80–1,080 yuan for the other three; remaining seats depend on the selected date.
Shanghai Culture Square · 上海文化广场: 597 Middle Fuxing Road, Huangpu · 上海市黄浦区复兴中路597号. South Shaanxi Road station serves Metro lines 1, 10 and 12. The theatre directs foreign and Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan customers to its ticket hotline, 021-64729000, 10:00–18:00, for account assistance. English surtitles are confirmed here for Einstein; check the other productions with the theatre before buying.