Wuzhen, a centuries-old water town in Zhejiang Province in the Chinese mainland, is once again awash with creativity as the 12th Wuzhen Theater Festival brings together artists and art lovers from around the world.
Running from October 16 to 26, the festival showcases 25 plays from 10 countries and regions, alongside 18 productions competing in the Emerging Theatre Artists’ Competition. Theater enthusiasts can dive into dialogue events, immersive workshops, reading sessions, and vibrant outdoor carnivals that turn the town’s canals and bridges into a dynamic performance space.
One of the festival highlights is “Anthropolis–Marathon” from Germany’s Deutsches Schauspielhaus Hamburg. Interweaving five classic Greek myths, this marks the play’s first performance outside Hamburg and features a collaboration between German and Chinese artists, sparking fresh cross-cultural dialogue on stage.
Since its debut in 2013, the Wuzhen Theater Festival has evolved into a launchpad for young international theater practitioners. Beyond the spotlight, it fuels the local economy—filling guesthouses, restaurants, and cafes—and infuses Wuzhen with new energy each autumn.
As the festival continues to grow, it reaffirms Wuzhen’s status as a global hub for innovation in theater and cultural exchange—where ancient waterways meet bold new stories.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
