Shengzhou is a county-level city in central Zhejiang inland just south of the Hangzhou Bay, administratively under the municipal government of Shaoxing. It is about 1.5 hours drive from the provincial capital of Hangzhou through the Hangzhou-Ningbo、Shangyu-Sanmen Expressway.
In Shengzhou, the birthplace of Yueju opera, there are many theatre stages, either in remote villages, or nestled in towns, boasting beautiful shapes and refined architecture. They are the witness of the rise and fall of Yueju Opera.
A long time ago, whether in town or in the countryside, Shengzhou people used to put up makeshift stages and invite opera troupes to perform at festivals, weddings, and other celebration ceremonies. Usually the performance lasted for three days, during which Shengzhou people could enjoy the beautiful aria and music of Yueju opera.
Theatre stages in Shengzhou was first built in the early Ming Dynasty , and developed into the stages in open air, in temple, and in ancestral hall. These stages not only served as performance venues, but also combined trade, entertainment and sightseeing. It is said that performances were put on at some theatre stages both day and night. At that time, women were not allowed to walk into temples and ancestral halls, as a result they were also forbidden on the theatre stages. The only chance for actresses to be seen was to perform on makeshift stages, which were carelessly built with rice buckets, wood blocks, and tables.
The ancient theatre stages combined woodcarving, stonecarving and brickcarving, revealing the high level of folk craftsmanship in Shengzhou. Nowadays, the theatre stages in Shengzhou have become a tourist attraction for their high artistic value and the memories they carry.
Shijia'ao Stage is located at the Shengwu Ancestral Hall at Ganlin town of Shengzhou City. It saw the birth of the first group of Yuejue opera actresses.
According to the rules at Shengwu Hall, women were not allowed to perform on the stage. A Yueju opera troupe of 24 actresses had to build up makeshift stage in the open air. Later the troupe traveled to Shanghai to perform Yueju opera, where they were very successful. When they came back to town, they became so eminent in the eyes of locals that they were invited to perform on the Shijia'ao Stage. Thus Shijiaao became the first formal stage to welcome Yueju opera actresses. The performance attracted a large audience and it turned out to be a big hit. Influenced by Ganlin town, more and more stages in Shengzhou became open to women, creating a good environment for the development of female Yueju opera.