The Zhangzhou glove puppet show Notre-Dame de Paris is put on in the square of the medieval Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris. [Photo provided to gofujian.com]

When China's traditional Zhangzhou glove puppet show meets French romance to depict the classic Victor Hugo novel the Hunchback of Notre Dame, also known as Notre-Dame de Paris, the resulting cultural fusion is both unique and enchanting.

The Zhangzhou glove puppet show, from Zhangzhou in Fujian province, dates back to the Jin dynasties (220-420) and it flourished during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911).

It seamlessly blends the Minnan dialect with local opera elements and its versatile singing and narration embody the adaptive and inclusive artistic spirit of Minnan culture.

The Zhangzhou Puppet Troupe performed last December in France, bringing the 1831 French literary masterpiece Notre-Dame de Paris to the puppetry stage, in an inspiring collusion of Chinese tradition and French Romanticism.

"It is very vivid, with strong operability and interactivity. It is more likely to reach French audiences when used to interpret Notre-Dame de Paris," said Guo Xiaonan, the director of the show.

The puppet characters, inspired by a 1950s film adaptation of Notre-Dame de Paris, are instantly recognizable to the French audience.

The innovative stage design mimics a church, featuring various performance areas like doors, windows, rooftops and squares, allowing performers to engage simultaneously in different scenes. Mechanisms controlling puppet movements have been tailored to suit different actions and scenes.

The glove puppet show rendition of Notre-Dame de Paris is widely said to stand out as a highlight of Sino-French cultural exchanges, showcasing exceptional skills and a unique perspective.