Performers, directors and visitors are descending on Wuzhen, an old water town in east China's Zhejiang Province, to exchange ideas, share inspiration and celebrate art at the 2018 Wuzhen Theatre Festival, which will run from October 18 through 28.
For the next 10 days and nights, the picturesque town with a history of more than 1,300 years will turn into a grand theater stage, hosting within its narrow winding alleyways and along its river banks a plethora of art performances.
October 29, 2017: A night view of Wuzhen during the 5th Wuzhen Theatre Festival, Zhejiang, China. /VCG Photo
The event, one of the premier festivals in Asia, is in its sixth edition this year, offering a wider selection of shows for theater lovers and performing art enthusiasts, with a total of 29 productions featuring 109 performances as well as a series of forums and workshops.
Under the theme "Rong" ("Magnanimity", 容), this year's extravaganza features its most diverse program to date, having attracted troupes and performers from six continents and showcasing a rich collection of theatrical styles.
Posters for the 2018 Wuzhen Theatre Festival and the plays showcased. /Courtesy of the Wuzhen Theatre Festival
But before the curtains are raised and the stage comes to life, CGTN is giving you the insight you need to savor this art carnival.
Diverse displays of theatrical art
Award-winning playwright, theater director and co-founder of the Wuzhen Theatre Festival Stan Lai said at a press conference in July that the program is bringing again world-class theaters to the small town.
"19.14" /Courtesy of the Chekhov Moscow Art Theatre
This year's cast will be unprecedentedly strong, and a formidable display of the theatrical art can be expected, according to Lai.
Four time-honored theaters with global fame, including Russia's Chekhov Moscow Art Theatre, Thalia Theatre from Germany, Suzuki Company of Toga (SCOT) from Japan and Polish Nowy Teatr, were "specially invited" to showcase their art.
The Chekhov Moscow Art Theatre has been the cradle of masters such as Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, and the birthplace of many theatrical masterpieces since its establishment in 1898 by the seminal Russian theater practitioner Konstantin Stanislavski. It will make its Wuzhen debut, staging the anti-war epic "19.14" to celebrate its 120th birthday.
Inspired by several tragic anecdotes about French and German soldiers during World War I, the story plays out as a cabaret show – a form of theatrical entertainment mixed with music, dance, and drama.
The Thalia Theatre from Hamburg will present "Dancer in the Dark" based on a 2000 Danish musical drama film by Lars von Trier. The actors will perform in the darkness, which "will bring the audience into sort of blindness-like immersive experience," noted Lai.
The SCOT, founded and led by Japanese theater master Tadashi Suzuki, will stage the hit "Springtime in the North", and the Nowy Teatr from Poland will showcase "One Gesture", which features sign language.
'When the classics awaken'
Poster for "Tea House 2018" /Courtesy of the Wuzhen Theatre Festival
This year's program will also see some theater classics embracing new interpretations.
Co-produced by Chinese and German theatrical production teams, the 2018 version of the theatrical scripture "Tea House", which was written by renowned novelist and dramatist Lao She, is set to take its world bow on Thursday night at the Wuzhen Grand Theatre, kicking off this year's festival.
According to its director, Meng Jinghui, who is also one of the festival founders, "Tea House" occupies a very special status in the history of Chinese theater, and this time around, the show will "pay fervent homage to Lao She, the great master in Chinese literary arena."
"Waiting for Godot" /Courtesy of the Wuzhen Theatre Festival
Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" is another highly anticipated show during the festival at the helm of the internationally acclaimed director Silviu Purcarete, starring one of Romania's most respected actors Constantin Chiriac, who is also the founder and president of the prestigious Sibiu International Theatre Festival.
"The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" by Indian stage director Deepan Sivaraman is a contemporary production that "seeks to transcend the barriers of the stage through innovative moves." It has been previously praised for its use of space.
The three classics are all presented at the festival's traditional section "When the Classics Awaken", which also includes other widely known works. Chekhov's masterpiece "The Cherry Orchard", William Shakespeare's comedy "As You Like It" as well as two of the most famous pieces by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, "The Little Prince" and "Wind, Sand and Stars", will be on display through the eyes of up and coming Chinese theater directors.
The young directors re-imagined the classic shows with elements of Chinese opera, bringing traditional Chinese culture to the heart of the theatrical wealth of humanity, which has fed the literary curiosity of generations upon generations of young minds throughout history.
An artist performs on the street at the "Outdoor Carnival" in Wuzhen, Zhejiang Province, China, October 29, 2017. /VCG Photo
Other exciting parts of the festival include experimental theater performances, a competition for young artists, discussions between drama masters, and a grand open-air carnival for performing arts.
Exhilarating events will bring the beauty of theater to every corner of the water town, and the best way to explore this utopia of theater is to walk through the winding streets, engaging and entertaining.
Stay tuned to CGTN for more following coverage from Wuzhen!
(Cover image by Zhang Xuecheng)