In 2005, director Zhang Chenting noticed her students using creative methods to cope with stress—a simple observation that sparked a transformative artistic mission. Over the past two decades, Zhang has pioneered a groundbreaking musical theater project driven entirely by children’s perspectives, empowering them to craft stories that reflect their joys, struggles, and dreams. The initiative, which began as a classroom experiment, has since evolved into a nationwide movement, reaching even remote mountain communities.
Zhang’s approach rejects rigid scripts, instead fostering collaboration where young performers shape narratives through improvisation and dialogue. "Every interaction carries warmth and depth," she explains, emphasizing the project’s focus on authenticity. By 2025, the musical has become a cultural touchstone, offering China’s youth a rare platform to voice their innermost thoughts while challenging traditional notions of art and education.
As the production continues to tour schools this year, its legacy grows: a testament to how nurturing creativity can bridge urban and rural divides, giving rise to a generation unafraid to speak its truth.
