The 10th Wuzhen Theatre Festival is now underway in the ancient Chinese water town in Zhejiang Province. For co-founder and director Stan Lai, the past decade has seen its ups and downs, but he says he's proud of what is called the most important festival of its kind in Asia. 

Rise of a phenomenal art festival in Asia

Founded in 2013, the festival has become one of the premier events in China and Asia. Even Stan Lai himself never thought he would see such a growth in just one decade.

"I was quite emotional because none of us could see to the tenth year. We were saying, can we survive to the second year? The whole energy of the place... we have really come a long way. And we have accomplished pretty much the impossible."

With the theme "Arise," the director is craving a new start for this year's festival.

"The top groups are back. How could you see anything more beautiful in the world than Robert Wilson's show? We're arising. We're back. My ambition is that it's not just bringing in great groups, but also tourists and audiences from abroad. We need to see Wuzhen during the festival filled with all sorts of foreigners who are enjoying the incredible experience of the festival. As Robert Wilson said on stage last night: art, the theater, these are the real things that unite people... It doesn't matter what the color of your skin is or what religion you are, you know. These are the things that bring us together. At this time the world is in a very strange situation. We need theater."

Drawing in more international theater artists

At this year's festival, performances from over 10 countries will be staged in the scenic water town, making Wuzhen a grand stage for global theater artists. Many saw huge potential in this rising art event, and as Stan Lai said, "We've put ourselves on the map."

"At the beginning, no one knew what the theater festival was. Now, the most famous groups in the world are approaching us, wondering when they can come. Some of our friends from overseas are second-timers. People call us 'the most important festival in Asia,' and I believe that. We have become such an important window for the world to see China. And now that the international groups can come back again, they're seeing China in a very special way and saying, wow, this is incredible."

A festival creates future talents

For the audience, the Wuzhen Theatre Festival is an incredible feast of fascinating dramas and dazzling carnivals. But it has a more ambitious mission, offering a stage for young theater enthusiasts to express and fulfill themselves.

"I think we have become sort of an engine for creativity because of the emerging artists' competition. And already from that competition, many people have become very prominent professionals, and they've performed in festivals, as well as other festivals around the world. To us, it's not just about putting on the very famous directors' works. It's about creating the very famous directors of the future, too."

The next step for Chinese theatre

Modern theater art in China has been greatly influenced by classic drama from overseas. Stan Lai shared his thoughts on how to forge your own path in the international market.

"The reason why I started writing plays was because I didn't want to copy Chekhov or Shakespeare, even though I admired them. But that's all I had in the day. And so, I thought, where are our own plays that reflect our own times, and that’s why the emerging artists' festival is so important. And I think then China's theater arts will start to rock it."