Let curiosity lead you, says 'The Deal' director

Amit Lahav, artistic director of the immersive physical theater production “The Deal,” stated that attendees should be inquisitive and open-hearted during a press briefing for the project at the Sea World Culture and Art Center the day before yesterday. The production is being staged on the newly renovated Minghua ship, now renamed Ancerville, in Shekou.

The creative team behind "The Deal" greets the audience during the world premiere press conference in Shekou on Sunday. Photo by Liu Xudong unless otherwise stated

Co-produced by China Merchants Culture and the London-based Gecko Theater, “The Deal” will make its world debut Oct. 1. The Minghua, a historic landmark, is set to reopen as an immersive performance complex following more than 1,000 days of renovations and upgrades.

Described as China’s first original immersive physical theater piece from Shenzhen, “The Deal” draws inspiration from Goethe’s “Fraust” and Gogol’s “The Overcoat” while rooting its narrative in Shenzhen's contemporary ethos of striving, said Sun Qijie, general manager of China Merchants Culture.

Artistic director Amit Lahav speaks to reporters following the press conference for "The Deal."

Lahav invited audiences to follow characters they feel drawn to and let their imaginations lead them on a journey through layered, dreamlike worlds. “This is a voyage of discovery for us, a voyage of discovery for the audience. We are going to make this discovery together,” Lahav said, describing the work as a combination of a promenade theater, traditional theater, and immersive experience.

The production, developed over more than two years, features 36 performers from 12 countries, including China, France, and the U.K. The director said the performers he found are “absolutely extraordinary human beings — dancers, actors, and creators” who underwent hundreds of workshop sessions and intensive rehearsals to hone their technique and ensemble responsiveness. “We are making discoveries together,” he said.

A scene from "The Deal." Courtesy of China Merchants

When asked whether language barriers might limit audience understanding, Lahav said the show is human-based rather than language-based. “We are looking for breathing, emotion, and connection so the work can resonate across cultures,” he said, adding that the piece speaks to fundamental human concerns, such as ambition and love, rather than to a single place or era.

“The Deal” follows Marcel, a poor, gentle, and timid man who falls in love with a colleague and struggles to prove himself in a competitive workplace. Pressured by fierce competition, Marcel makes a fateful bargain to exchange his soul for a magnificent “coat” that symbolizes power, wealth, and success. After a fleeting taste of triumph, Marcel confronts the true meaning of life.

Scenic Design Director Rhys Jarman addresses the audience during the press conference for "The Deal" Sunday.

Scenic design director Rhys Jarman described the production as “ship-centric.” Nearly 3,000 props were painstakingly sourced from European antique and second-hand shops over 16 months to recreate 1930s Paris, down to the smallest detail.

“I found beautiful, little vintage cigarette holders, lamps, carpets, rugs, and pens from England and brought them over,” said Jarman. “You should explore and find the beautiful things.”

The Ancerville, formerly known as the Minghua, is docked in Shekou, now transformed into a world-class immersive theater venue.

Producers highlighted that the Minghua itself is central to the project’s meaning. Once a maritime landmark tied to generations of memories, the refurbished vessel now operates as an immersive theater that transports visitors from contemporary Shenzhen to a meticulously realized 1930s Paris. Early audience trials have yielded strong market feedback, with advance tickets for the Oct. 1–14 window largely sold out and preview attendees praising the production as “a must-see.”

“Unbelievable. Incredible. Recommended. Absolutely stunning," said Simon Wheeler, from Trinidad & Tobago, after watching the play last night. Eledir Busanello, a Brazilian resident of Shekou, shared the sentiment, saying, “I never saw something like this. I love being part of it. Please come and see it.”