China's futuristic National Grand Theater staged its first test show Tuesday night.

The show, China's classic of ballet The Red Detachment of Women, was only open to the builders of the theater, including migrant workers, journalists and local residents who were relocated to make way for the egg-shaped "bubble" structure.

The ballet was staged in the theater's opera house.

Designed by French architect Paul Andreu, the National Grand Theater, which is to the west of Tiananmen Square, boasts three gigantic halls - a 2,416-seat opera house, a 2,017-seat concert hall and a 1,040-seat theater.

The huge "bubble", which is covered with titanium panels and surrounded by water and greenery, is expected to become China's top arts performance center.

More than 20 performances of seven operas, dramas and ballets will be staged at the theater for tests. The first formal performance in the theater is scheduled for the end of this year, said Deng Yijiang, vice head of the theater.

(Xinhua News Agency September 26, 2007)