Gather in Wuzhen This Autumn in the Name of Theatre

WUZHEN, China, Sept. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The long-awaited 2nd Wuzhen Theatre Festival 2014 (www.wuzhenfestival.com) will be held in the dream-like water town, Wuzhen, in China's Yangtze River Delta region from October 30 to November 9. The 11-day event will feature thrilling theatrical pieces that will attract drama fans from all over the world.

The Wuzhen Theatre Festival is a grand theatre event founded by Chen Xianghong, Stan Lai, Huang Lei and Meng Jinghui and hosted by Cultural Wuzhen Co., Ltd. Eugenio Barba, renowned theatre director at the Odin Theatre in Denmark, has been invited to serve as the honorary chairman at this year's event. The magnificent Wuzhen Grand Theatre and the six small classical theatres remodeled from several ancient buildings in the historic Wuzhen West Scenic Zone will present 16 classic dramas from 7 countries, all of which are plays renowned both in China and abroad. It will be an unforgettable literary experience to linger along the water alleys, drink a pot of chrysanthemum tea, and see a play at the theatre when night falls.

Watch Green Snake presented on the natural, dreamy stage in the famous water town

National Theatre of China director Tian Qinxin adapted Green Snake, a novel written by well-known Chinese writer Lilian Lee, into a drama that will be presented on the natural, dreamy stage at Water Theatre in Wuzhen West Scenic Zone. The novel recounts a story of love and of belief systems from the perspective of Xiaoqing, the Green Snake, in which she describes her feelings about human beings, monsters and Buddhist monks as well as the unconstrained combination of fake and genuine emotions that developed among them. As the opening drama of the 2nd Wuzhen Theatre Festival, Green Snake is the narration of Buddhist spirits. The director plans to have a discussion with viewers of the drama to explore what outlets exist for human beings after being plunged into an emotional conflict. Monsters want to become human beings while human beings want to become Buddhists. After watching the drama, viewers will rediscover a purity of spirit that they lost a long time ago. Human beings harbor both evil and Buddhist spirits. Drama fans can go to the picturesque water theatre and experience the unrestrained and thoughtful emotions as well as the sense of karma the director seeks to share through the drama.

Embracing change and transformation, Tony Award winner presents The White Snake

Produced by the Goodman Theatre, The White Snake, directed by Tony Award (the highest U.S. theatre honor) winner Mary Zimmerman, will be staged at Wuzhen Grand Theatre from the 5th to the 9th of November, as the final presentation of this year's festival. Using humorous dialogue to tell a touching and sentimental love story, Mary Zimmerman's The White Snake brings the classic Chinese fable to life from a unique perspective. The drama incorporates Chinese traditional opera elements, with meticulous attention to sets, clothing, lighting and music. The raindrops made of blue ribbons create a dreamlike atmosphere, providing the audience with a spectacular visual display.

Twelve dramas shortlisted in the Young Theatre Artist's Competition and over 1,500 carnival sessions led by more than 300 art performance teams and street artists from the world will further complement the Wuzhen Theatre Festival. The festival will lead to Wuzhen becoming a water town paradise for drama fans while allowing fans to become intimately acquainted with the thrilling dramas and dreams in the ancient town on the southern side of the Yangtze River. The second Wuzhen Theatre Festival invites each and every one to visit the romantic water town Wuzhen in October.

Operas performed by special invitation at the 2nd Wuzhen Theatre Festival 2014:

Green Snake, directed by Tian Qinxin from the National Theatre of China (the opening opera)
White Snake (U.S.), directed by Tony Award honoreeMary Zimmerman from Goodman Theatre (the closing opera)
La Voz Humana (Netherland), Amsterdam Werkteater
The Elfin in Wall (South Korea), Michoo Theater
The Twelfth Night (India), Group Theatre
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (U.S.), The Reduced Shakespeare Company
Waltz on Stilts (Italy), Teatrotascabile di Bergamo
Ode to Progressand Memory (Denmark), Odin Theatre
1587, a Year of No Significance (Hong Kong), Zuni Icosahedron
Morning, morning (Taiwan), Yang Jingxiang Theatre
Six Lives a Bird - Amazing Tales (Beijing), Lin Zhaohua Theater Creation Center
The Maid (Beijing), Meng Jinghui Drama Studio
Jack the Ripper (Beijing), Yang Ting Opera Studio
There was a Temple (Beijing), 121 Stage
Tune of Beijing (Beijing), Liuhe Drama Studio

For more information, please contact:

Jessica He
T: 86-135-8642-9285
E-mail: [email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140904/142859

SOURCE Wuzhen Tourism Co., Ltd.