The ancient canals of Wuzhen, Zhejiang Province, are alive with the energy of international creativity as the 12th Wuzhen Theater Festival opened on October 16. Over 11 days, the UNESCO-listed water town transforms into a global stage, welcoming hundreds of thousands of attendees to experience 25 curated plays from 10 countries and regions alongside workshops, readings, and lively outdoor events.
This year's theme, 'Fu Yao' (swirling up), reflects the festival's mission to elevate cultural vitality through cross-border collaboration. A standout production, Anthropolis–Marathon by Germany's Deutsches Schauspielhaus Hamburg, reimagines Greek myths through a contemporary lens, sparking conversations between Eastern and Western theatrical traditions.
Since its 2013 debut, the festival has become a launchpad for emerging talent, with 18 entries competing in this year's Emerging Theater Artists' Competition. "Wuzhen is where tradition meets innovation," said a Beijing-based cultural analyst. "It's not just performances – it's a living dialogue about our shared human stories."
As night falls, the town's stone bridges and lantern-lit alleys double as impromptu stages, blending Jiangnan water-town charm with avant-garde artistry – a testament to Asia's growing influence in shaping global cultural narratives.
