The 9th China Children's Theatre Festival is underway in Beijing. With a theme of "When Childhood Meets Theatre", the event will last for thirty-seven days and is expected to BENEFIT some one hundred and sixty thousand spectators. Check it out! 

The festival opened with a children's play "March in the Darkness". Set against the backdrop of the War Against Japanese Aggression, it tells how a group of children who lost their parents, united and encouraged each other.

"The youth of today are the masters of the future". Through living strongly amid the haze of war, the children stand up from helplessness and sorrow, and convey the unyielding spirit of the Chinese people through their young voices. This is the first time that the battle of Shanghai is performed on the stage as a children's play.

YIN XIAODONG, PRESIDENT CHINA NATIONAL THEATRE FOR CHILDREN "Besides 'March in Darkness', the theatre festival also includes various kinds of children's dramas featuring diverse topics, to present the vigorous picture of prosperous development in this field. Centering in Beijing, the festival also sets up parallel sites in Jinan, Chengdu and Shenyang, radiating the fantastic performances nationwide."

191 performances from 15 countries and regions will be presented during the festival. There will also be an international children's theatre cooperation and development forum, and other theatre activities like workshops and costume experiences.

"I often bring my kid to the China National Theatre for Children, and she likes the shows very much. I think the shows can help cultivate her pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. We've been closely following the news of the festival and will attend the events that interest us."

Another first for the festival: the "Chinese and Foreign Children's Theatre Summer Camp". Nearly 100 children from China and abroad will gather to share the art of theatre.

National directors and actors will give instruction and conduct comprehensive training in performances.

The China Children's Theatre Festival is in its 9th edition. It's deepened the exchange of children's theatres between China and foreign countries, broadened the international stage and enhanced the international popularity and brand influence of Chinese children's theatre. DSY, CGTN.