Shanghai Peking Opera Theatre was established in March 1955, and was formed by several former public Peking Opera Troupes, such as East China Experimental Peking Opera Troupe, Shanghai People's Peking Opera Troupe and Xinmin Peking Opera Troupe. The founding president Zhou brought together Zhou, Tong, Li Yuru, Tong Xiangling, Wang Guiqing, Wang Zhengping, Sun Zhengyang and others. After the Tianchan stage was changed to public, it was also managed by the theater.

1966 before the outbreak of the cultural revolution, the theater participated in the production of many Beijing opera films, such as,, Dance Week, You Sanjie and so on. The stage art of Peking Opera performers such as Zhou, Tong and Li Yuru was recorded and preserved.

After the Cultural Revolution began, two modern Peking Opera (modern Peking Opera), A Journey to the Tiger Mountain and Harbor, rehearsed by the theater were included in 1 batch of eight model operas. The theater also rehearsed "Song of Jiang Longsong" and "Panshiwan" in the second batch of model operas. Hu Shan Xing, Harbor, Long Yin and Panshiwan have all been made into Peking Opera movies.