As the tastes of art-savvy audiences change, theatrical performances have become more creative and diversified.

The Wuzhen Theatre Festival in east China's Zhejiang Province is injecting energy into the sleepy water town of Wuzhen. The growing theater scene in China is undergoing change thanks to a young generation of daring and innovative artists.

A competition among youth performers has attracted a large audience at the ongoing festival. The contest aims to open more doors for artists looking for a strong start to their careers.

Outside of the West Warehouse Theatre, audiences lined up more than an hour ahead of showtime. 

Backstage, three student actors were getting ready for their first performance on a big stage off-campus.

"The atmosphere is very good," said Liu Xin, one of the actors. "Here at this festival, we have the chance to meet with the nation's top directors and actors."

Liu said he is grateful for the professional environment brought by the festival. Liu's colleague Huo Ye agrees. He believes the competition will strengthen not only their acting skills, but also their understanding of performing arts.

"We as performers need confidence. This experience encourages us to act bravely on stage," Huo said. 

A younger generation of actors is forging its own path to the stage. While older, more traditional plays told stories of Chinese culture and history, drama scripts in recent years tackled social issues, such as corruption and power abuse.

"Many people refuse to comment on certain sensitive issues, but we are not afraid of doing that. We hope that our audience can learn something from our performances," said Wang Xia, another student who joined Liu and Huo. 

Outside, spectators who couldn't get a seat watched the plays live. Despite light rain, nothing seemed to dampen their passion for this rising art in China.

(Top image: A view of the water town of Wuzhen, east China's Zhejiang Province, at night. /CGTN Photo)