Water Town Of Dreams

Picturesque Wuzhen hosts drama carnival By Bai Shi

To tourists, Wuzhen resembles a beautiful water town located in the rich and populous Zhejiang Province south of the Yangtze River. For artists, Wuzhen is a paradise isolated from noisy cities, especially during the First Wuzhen Theatre Festival from May 9 to 19.

“The festival presents dramas totaling 300 hours. It’s like an ever-changing theater in which I fl it from one dream to another,” Huang Lei, cofounder and art director of the festival, said.

While many cities in China are interested in organizing cultural festivals, the really successful events often play out in smaller towns such as the Avignon Theatre Festival in France and Edinburgh International Festival in the United Kingdom. In light of this, Huang decided to establish an international drama festival in Wuzhen several years ago.

His idea was later echoed by Chen Xianghong, CEO of Wuzhen Tourism Co. Ltd.,Stan Lai, a Chinese-American drama director,and Meng Jinghui, China's premier experimental theater director. In addition, Robert Brustein, one of the most distinguished and influential figures in American theater, has gladly given a hand to his Chinese counterparts as Honorary Chairman of the festival committee.

During the 11-day event, ancient Wuzhen showcased its theater to an exciting mix of international and Chinese artists. Performers and drama lovers as well as tourists enjoyed stage performances and carnivals along alleyways and riverside roads.

The Wuzhen Theatre Festival included a line-up of world class dramas such as Inside The Skeleton of the Whale by Denmark’s acclaimed Odin Teatret, directed by Eugenio Barba; The Dance and the Railroad by Tony Award and Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award winner David Henry Hwang; Robert Brustein’s latest The Last Will,based on the last days of Shakespeare; the legendary eight-hour epic A Dream Like A Dream by Stan Lai; the highly acclaimed Four Generations Under One Roof by the National Theatre of China, under the direction of Tian Qinxin; and Murder of Hanging Garden di-rected by Meng Jinghui.

DIALOGUE OF DRAMATISTS: Chinese-American dramatist Stan Lai ( first left), Eugenio Barba (second left), director and founder of Odin Teatret in Denmark,together with Nicola Savarese (second right) from University Romatre, discuss the performing arts during the Wuzhen Theatre Festival

BROADWAY DAZZLES: Actors from American playwright Robert Brustein’s The Last Will rehearse a scene at the Ancient Courtyard Theater in Wuzhen on May 15

CLASSIC ON SHOW: The Chinese drama Four Generations Under One Roof,originally written by Lao She, is performed by the National Theatre of China in Wuzhen on May 19 during the theater festival

Also, a young theater artist’s competition was held during the event to promote the best new creative works.

“It’s incredible. During the Wuzhen Theater Festival, artistic elements that we never thought compatible were mixed together to create a brand-new experience. For each one of us, it was pretty good,” Stan Lai said as the event drew to a close.

Wuzhen, like many other ancient Chinese towns, has plenty of tradition, but still creates new ways of enriching its cultural appeal. ■