Core Points - The 12th Wuzhen Theatre Festival will be held from October 16 to 26, with the theme "Fuyiao," inspired by Zhuangzi's "Xiaoyao You" [1] - The festival will feature 25 outstanding performances from 10 countries, including Germany, France, Canada, and Norway, across six major sections [3] - The opening performance will be "The City of Humans Marathon Play," a nine-hour production based on ancient Greek mythology, directed by German theatre master Karin Beier [3][4] Group 1 - The festival will present 71 performances, with ticket sales for invited productions starting on August 17 and September 3 [3] - The opening play, "The City of Humans Marathon Play," is a collaboration that took five years to create, integrating ancient myths into contemporary society [3][4] - The production involves 72 professionals and over 90 actors from the Hamburg Deutsche Theater, bringing a significant theatrical experience to Chinese audiences [4] Group 2 - The festival will showcase renowned international artists, including Canadian theatre master Robert Lepage and Japanese director Suzuki Tadashi, among others [6] - Various adaptations of classic works will be presented, exploring contemporary issues through innovative interpretations [7] - The "Dancing with Joy" section will feature physical theatre and dance performances, highlighting diverse artistic expressions [8] Group 3 - The festival will also include ongoing segments such as the Youth Competition and the Ancient Town Carnival, with registration deadlines approaching [10] - Collaborations with brands like Bubble Mart and Universal Beijing Resort will introduce special themed activities and merchandise [10] - The festival aims to create a vibrant artistic hub by relocating the theatre market to a new scenic area along the canal [10]

Core Points - The 12th Wuzhen Theatre Festival will take place from October 16 to 26, featuring 25 performances from 10 countries, with a total of 71 shows [1][3] - The festival's theme is "Fuyiao," and ticket sales will begin on August 17 and September 3 on the Damai platform [1] Group 1: Featured Performances - The festival will showcase a variety of performances, including 15 international works from countries such as Germany, France, Canada, and Japan, alongside 10 Chinese productions [3][5] - The opening performance will be a marathon play titled "The City of Humans," directed by German contemporary theatre master Karin Beier, lasting 9 hours and featuring 72 professionals and over 90 actors [3][5] Group 2: Notable Directors and Works - Renowned directors such as Canadian Robert Lepage and Japanese Suzuki Tadashi will present upgraded classic works, including "Cocot and Davis" and "The Nose" respectively [5][6] - Young directors will reinterpret classic literature, with works like "The Woman with the Dog" by Chekhov and "Macbeth in the Storage Room," focusing on contemporary themes [6][7] Group 3: Festival Activities - The festival will include a youth competition and a carnival, with registration ongoing until August 20 [7] - New initiatives such as the "Starting Drama" unit and the "Women, We" female director unit will be introduced to enhance audience engagement [7][8] - The festival will also feature workshops and reading sessions, providing opportunities for audiences to interact with international theatre artists [8]