By outdoor-nature-child.com On the evening of October 17, renowned European theater and opera director Krzysztof Warlikowski declared, “The Wuzhen Theater Festival is the most utopian place in the world.” This statement marked the opening of the 11th Wuzhen Theater Festival in Wuzhen, Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, featuring 24 invited performances from 11 countries and regions.
Since its inception in 2013, the Wuzhen Theater Festival has utilized the rich cultural heritage and unique natural scenery of Wuzhen to provide a platform for theater artists to dream, create, and share those dreams. The festival attracts outstanding theatrical works from around the globe, promoting the dissemination and appreciation of theater arts while offering audiences a chance to enjoy and reflect on art.
This year’s festival, themed “Rock Solid,” features not only the 24 invited productions but also over 2,000 events as part of the Wuzhen Carnival, 11 dialogues within the town, 9 theater workshops, 38 readings, and 6 “Staging Dreams” performances, inviting audiences to immerse themselves in a fantastic journey of theater art and experience the charm of diverse cultural backgrounds.
Why has the Wuzhen Theater Festival become so popular among young people over the last 11 years?
It’s a place where young theater dreams flourish. In the past decade, the festival’s youth competition has attracted more than 10,000 young theater enthusiasts, resulting in over 600 participants presenting 161 original plays on stage at the Wuzhen Bangwan Theater.
This year’s youth competition centered around three themes: “Pillow, Sunshine, and Giant Dinosaur,” garnering 560 submissions from which 18 finalists were selected. Throughout the festival, 86 young actors will passionately perform these selected works, competing for the festival’s “Town Award.”
“We have always aimed to cultivate young theater talents through the Wuzhen Theater Festival,” said Chen Xianghong, the festival’s founder and chairman. He expressed hope that by showcasing more diverse, professional, and inclusive young theater works, the festival can become a window for the world to understand Chinese theater.
Additionally, a brand-new initiative, “Dream Theater Granary,” has been launched, showcasing six productions that either innovate upon classic plays or delve into the contemporary inner worlds and thoughts of youth. This unique space and performance format promise a fresh aesthetic experience for the audience.
“Dream Theater Granary” will take place in the granary area of North Wuzhen, featuring interactive spaces, after-parties, and workshops to encourage participation from theater practitioners and enthusiasts, fostering creativity and inspiration across diverse genres.
Notably, esteemed theater masters from both domestic and international backgrounds will share their artistic insights and experiences in the “Town Dialogues.” They will also conduct workshops to provide theoretical and practical support for theater workers and enthusiasts. Additionally, “Reading Sessions” will bring classic literature to life through the power of voice, emotion, and performance, commemorating the shared memories of renowned literary works in the picturesque waterways of Jiangnan.
“With a millennium of history, Wuzhen serves as the face of Jiangnan, while the Wuzhen Theater Festival, now in its 11th year, represents an unexpected turn for this small town,” Chen noted. He hopes that more seeds of theatrical artistry will grow into towering trees in Wuzhen and that the festival will continue to present audiences with surprises and emotional experiences.
The Wuzhen Theater Festival will run until October 27.