Wuzhen festival in full flow

The 10th Wuzhen Theater Festival was launched at the Wuzhen Grand Theater by co-founders Chen Xianghong, Huang Lei, Stan Lai and Meng Jinghui, and US director and playwright Robert Wilson. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The 10th Wuzhen Theater Festival kicked off on Oct 19 in the canal town of Wuzhen in Zhejiang province with a series of events that include stage performances, competitions, forums, workshops and markets.

The festival was launched at the Wuzhen Grand Theater by co-founders Chen Xianghong, Huang Lei, Stan Lai and Meng Jinghui, and US director and playwright Robert Wilson, whose production H — 100 Seconds to Midnight, was the opening performance.

The 10th Wuzhen Theater Festival kicked off on Oct 19 in the canal town of Wuzhen in Zhejiang province with a series of events that include stage performances, competitions, forums, workshops and markets. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Themed "Arise", this year's festival features 28 productions, 87 performances, 18 groups of contestants in the emerging theater artists' competitions, and some 2,000 outdoor carnival performances.

Until Oct 29, visitors can also attend 12 panel discussions, 12 theater workshops, 27 reading sessions and six exhibitions.

The 10th Wuzhen Theater Festival kicked off on Oct 19 in the canal town of Wuzhen in Zhejiang province with a series of events that include stage performances, competitions, forums, workshops and markets. [Photo provided to China Daily]

For this year's emerging theater artists' competition, an annual event, applicants were asked to create short productions based around the elements of train tickets, famous paintings and horses.

The committee received 573 submissions, 18 of which were shortlisted. Six will compete in a final round toward the end of the festival.

The 10th Wuzhen Theater Festival kicked off on Oct 19 in the canal town of Wuzhen in Zhejiang province with a series of events that include stage performances, competitions, forums, workshops and markets. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The Wuzhen Dialogues section includes 12 panel discussions, during which theater practitioners and experts will talk about contemporary trends in Chinese and international theater, as well as popular topics including productions adapted from literature, the relationship between audience and theater, and cross-disciplinary productions.

Both the competition and panel discussions are free, and visitors can obtain complimentary tickets online, or by queuing in person.