On October 11, the 2024 Beijing People's Art Theatre International Drama Festival commenced at Beijing People's Art Experimental Theatre of Beijing International Theatre Centre. From October 11 to November 10, nine wonderful dramas from five countries and regions will be staged across eight locations within the Capital Theatre, Cao Yu Theatre, Beijing People's Art Experimental Theatre and Juyin Theatre affiliated with Beijing People's Art Theatre (BPAT), encompassing six sections and over 40 sessions of theatrical events.

At the opening ceremony, Feng Yuanzheng, President of BPAT, introduced the overall situation of this festival. Feng stated that this year's festival is themed "Jing" (Boundaries), aiming to convey the concept of "art without boundaries" and showcase BPAT's sincere and open attitude in welcoming every artist and spectator.

"Zero Liturgy" from the National Drama Theatre of Russia (Alexandrinsky Theatre), and the full-length play "The Dream of the Red Chamber" from Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre will be presented to the audience. The joint staging of these two dramatic masterpieces will provide not only a feast for exchanges between Chinese and Western cultures, but also a perfect showcase of the charm of classic art. Subsequently, works from theatres from Georgia, France, and other countries, such as "Seagull" and "Littoral", as well as co-productions by Chinese and non-Chinese entities, will take to the stage.

In addition, "New Horizons of Drama - International Drama Seminar" co-hosted by the China Theatre Association and BPAT will be held on October 18 and 19, aiming to delve into the future trends of theatrical arts and build an international exchange platform for this art form.

During the festival, special exhibitions such as "Celebrating 60th Anniversary of Establishment of China-France Diplomatic Relations - Exhibition of Performances of Comédie-Française" and "10th Anniversary Retrospective of Beijing People's Art Theatre International Drama Festival" will be launched. With a month-long program of performances and activities, more spectators will be treated to world-class dramas.

(Source: CRI Online)