IATC is offering a Young Critics’ Workshop in China in the context of Wu Zhen International Theatre Festival (19 – 29 October 2017). The waterside town of Wu Zhen, declared “UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE” in its entirety, is the uniquely beautiful location of the most vigorous theatre festival in China today. The IATC Workshop participants will have the opportunity to watch performances created by artists such as Katie Mitchell and Oskaras Koršunovas, new works produces by Schaubühne and the Vakhtangov State Academy Theatre in Russia, as well as a wide variety of other shows from Australia, Switzerland, Brazil, Lebanon, Ireland, Romania, etc. Alongside such international productions, Wu Zhen Theatre Festival will offer a complex showcase of Chinese theatre created by both young and established theatre directors: shows by Tian Qinxin, He Nian, Zhou Keand Ban Zan etc. will be presented.

Alongside the richness and variety of the theatrical programme, Wu Zhen International Theatre Festival offers its IATC guests the chance to discover one of the most extraordinary historical towns in the entire world. Preserved with utmost care and dedication, Wu Zhen looks and feels like the delicate universe of a play from ancient times. Its picturesque cobblestone streets, its open air venues and its long canals make it one the truly sensational tourist attractions of Asia, aptly described as the “Venice of the East”.

Arrival date for the young critics is October 21, and departure date is October 28 (7 nights). Accommodation, local transportation and meals are provided by the festival. The workshop will involve two groups – one speaking English, the other Chinese. The English group will be monitored by Octavian Saiu, Adjunct Secretary General of IATC, and the Chinese one by Peng Tao, Director of IATC China.