The poster for the French original musical Noe, La Force de Vivre. [Photo/taizhou.com.cn]

The French original musical Noe, La Force de Vivre was performed at the Yong'an Theater in Xianju county, Taizhou, Zhejiang province, on the evening of June 15. This is the musical's first stop in Asia on the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France.

Produced and scripted by acclaimed French artist Essai Altounian, the musical reimagines the biblical tale of Noah's Ark, where a divine flood purges the world consumed by human violence. Noah, deemed virtuous, survives and is asked to build an ark to bring his family and a pair of each animal species, eventually landing on Mount Ararat to repopulate the earth.

Audiences lauded the production for its professional acting, impressive stage design, and lifelike animal costumes. Children were particularly captivated by the innovative storytelling and vivid stage effects, leading to a continuous wave of applause throughout the performance.

Following the premiere, the musical will embark on a tour spanning Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Hubei, and Hunan provinces until August.

The production also received support from the United Nations Environment Programme. For every ticket sold, a tree will be planted in China, France, Africa, and the Amazon region.