China National Peking Opera Company, Sadler's Wells

The China National Peking Opera Company, renowned for their glorious array of costumes, dances, mime, music, and acrobats, return to Sadler's Wells this October. They will perform the enchanting love story The Emperor and the Concubine on the evenings of the 19 and 20 October. On the latter date they will also present an afternoon double bill of two short martial arts plays: the comedic The Crossroad Inn and the folk story The Monkey King and the Leopard.

Returning to London after a successful run last autumn, Peking Opera celebrates the absolute dedication of its cast and crew, led by the stars Yu Kuizhi and Li Shengsu. This year's project also underlines cultural exchange: the performances at Sadler's Wells are being preceded by workshops and discussions led by the artists at the British Library and Oxford Ashmolean Museum.

This is an excellent opportunity to witness the spectacle, colour, and scale of an ancient Chinese art form.