Exhibition gathers prestigious drama troupes for global exchanges

Since its inception in 2011, the Capital Theatre Boutique Performance Invitation Exhibition has gathered prestigious domestic and international drama troupes in Beijing, enriching the city's theatrical landscape and providing a high-quality platform for global exchanges.

On Sept 5, the Beijing People's Art Theatre, the annual event's organizer, announced the upcoming edition, which will be renamed and upgraded as the Beijing People's Art Theatre International Drama Invitation Exhibition.

The event, from Oct 11 to Nov 10, will bring together nine acclaimed international and domestic drama troupes, including several performances making their Beijing debut, announced Feng Yuanzheng, actor, director and president of the Beijing People's Art Theatre.

"The Beijing People's Art Theatre has launched its four venues, which will make this international event more diverse and offer a richer theatrical experience to the audience," says Feng, adding that this year's edition will be themed Jing, meaning "realm" or "dimension", which is designed to embody the concept of "freeing people's minds".

Founded in 1952, the Beijing People's Art Theatre, located a 20-minute walk from the bustling Wangfujing pedestrian shopping street, is considered the flagship of Chinese drama. It is known as home to many established Chinese actors and actresses. The institution's latest performance venue, the Beijing International Theatre Center, opened its doors in 2021.It is located next to the Capital Theatre, home of the Beijing People's Art Theatre, established in 1954. Housing two auditoriums, the Beijing International Theatre Center will be one of the four venues presenting the Beijing People's Art Theatre International Drama Invitation Exhibition at one of its bigger venues, the Cao Yu Theatre, which is named after the renowned playwright and first president of the Beijing People's Art Theatre.

Notably, Georgia's Tbilisi Vaso Abashidze New Theater will stage Chekhov's The Seagull. At the same time, the National Drama Theatre of Russia (Alexandrinsky Theatre) will perform Zero Liturgy, which is based on one of the most popular works by Fyodor Dostoyevsky — The Gambler.

The Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center's production The Dream of the Red Chamber, based on the Chinese classic of the same name, will also be staged in Beijing during the event. During the six-hour production, audiences will be introduced to the encyclopedic scene by Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) writer Cao Xueqin, chronicling the downfall of the wealthy and influential Jia family during social and political upheaval.

Audiences will also enjoy the Chinese stage adaptation of Goethe's epic Faust, presented by the established Lithuanian theater director Rimas Tuminas who worked with Chinese artists, including actor Wang Yanhui playing the role of Faust and actor Yin Fang playing the role of Mephistopheles, the demon.

In celebration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France and the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, the Comedie-Francaise and the La Colline National Theatre will perform the classic French plays The Impostures of Scapin by Moliere and Littoral (The Seaside) by Wajdi Mouawad, highlighting the rich traditions and contemporary innovations of French theater.

The event will also include an international drama seminar bringing together drama experts and practitioners from countries such as France, Hungary, Slovenia, Poland and Italy, to discuss various topics including international exchanges, drama education, festival operations and the relationship between theater and urban development.

Exhibitions will be held to extend the theatrical experience beyond performances, allowing audiences to engage with dynamic art forms and explore the history of the Comedie-Francaise, one of France's oldest national theaters. Interactive installations and ambient setups will also be featured, enhancing the visitor experience.