An artist's concept of the upcoming Peking opera show "Red Cliff" [Photo: chncpa.org]

An upcoming Peking opera show will offer a panorama of the opera art's apparel, its costume designer says. It will be the Peking opera directorial debut for Zhang Jigang, who assisted Zhang Yimou in directing the August 8 opening ceremony for the Beijing Olympics.

"We have designed more than 180 costumes for 'Red Cliff'," said Peng Dinghuang at a Monday press conference, where she and co-designer Song Li unveiled a selection of their designs.

"Red Cliff", based on a historical water battle that has inspired John Woo's film of the same name, boasts a long list of top-notch thespians due to its meaty story.

"The play has every type of Peking opera roles," Peng said, "and you could say the show is an exhibition of Peking opera costumes."

Peng added that most of the 180 or more costumes will be hand-made, and will demonstrate "a fusion of traditional sewing art and modern beauty."

The six-act "Red Cliff" will premiere on December 22 at Beijing's National Center for the Performing Arts.