WTEA International Theatre Festival 2025 Opens

 

Adapted and translated from a post on the WeChat Official Account of The Central Academy of Drama

(https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/xcJdy_mpm04qh6shGicuVw)

On 20 October, the opening ceremony of the WTEA International Theatre Festival 2025 took place at the Proscenium Stage Theatre, Theatre Centre, on the Changping campus of the Central Academy of Drama (CAD).

 

Festival decoration

The ceremony was attended by representatives from member schools, including Hao Rong, Secretary General of the WTEA and President of the CAD; George Shalutashvili, Rector of the Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film Georgia State University; Cornelia Krawutschke, Vice President of the Ernst Busch University of Theatre Arts; Nicholas Holden, Vice Principal of the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art; Konstantinos Arvanitakis, Director of the Athens Conservatoire Drama School; Jerome Stevenson, Associate Dean of School of Theatre, Oklahoma City University; and Aleksei Blokhin, Professor at the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts-GITIS, with the title of People's Artist of the Russian Federation. They were joined by international delegates, the leadership team, department heads, and faculty and student representatives of the CAD. The ceremony was hosted by Professor Li Hong at the CAD Department of Acting.

 

Professor Li Hong as the host of the ceremony

The theme for this year's festival is "Dream" or "Love." In accordance with the WTEA's Bylaws, there will be two winners of WTEA Stage Performance Award, six winners of WTEA Acting Award, and six winners of Outstanding Acting Award. The winners will be announced at the opening ceremony of the Guilin Festival following the WTEA International Theatre Festival.

Prof. George Shalutashvili spoke on behalf of the participating faculty and students. Reflecting on a question—what, after all, is the most important difference between the theatres of different nations?—he noted that there are no differences. He stressed that every true theatre artist is, in fact, concerned with just two fundamental questions: “why do we exist, and what do we live for?” These questions trouble all artists from around the world, and they try to find answers through different forms, genres, traditions, and texts—but the goal is the same for everyone. The world is one big family, and in this family, if you are not deeply sincere, you simply cannot be a part of it, as theatre artists speak a theatrical "Esperanto." It is in the very search for answers to these questions that a true artist finds genuine happiness and creative joy. He also expressed his expectations for the younger generation, encouraging them to know and remember the past. They are obligated to pass on the finest traditions, so that they can create a new theatre, the theatre of the future, which should belong to themselves and their generation. He concluded with a quote from a Georgian director: "When I think about what gives theatre its mysterious power of attraction, the reason for its eternal existence, I come to one conclusion: theatre will exist forever, because the human desire to discover their own inner world in someone else's soul will never die."

Rector George Shalutashvili

President Hao Rong of the CAD welcomed all guests, experts, scholars, and students participating in the WTEA International Theatre Festival 2025. He also extended his deepest gratitude to those who have long been dedicated to promoting global theatre education and international exchange. He highlighted that this year's festival themes, "Dream" and "Love," set a poetic and powerful stage for artistic dialogue. This festival explores the most timeless emotions of human life while paying tribute and returning to the roots of theatre. He expressed his hope that young creators would seize this precious opportunity to showcase their talent on an international stage, share perspectives and gain inspirations. He encouraged them to interpret the many faces of dreams and love through young eyes and genuine performances that tell the stories of our times. President Hao noted that as a premier institution of theatre education in China, the CAD is committed to fostering international exchange and collaboration in theatre education. He emphasised that in this challenging, ever-changing world, we need theatre more than ever, as it connects every one of us and shows the path toward a better future.

WTEA Secretary General Prof. Hao Rong

Following his remarks, President Hao officially declared the WTEA International Theatre Festival 2025 open. Students from various departments of the CAD then presented an artistic showcase titled Better Theatre, Better World.

The entire showcase was centred on the theme "Amity and Unity," illustrating how young people from around the world can build a diverse community of mutual exchange and learning through theatre. Theatre enables us to recognise shared human emotions, transcend national and cultural boundaries, and make the world a better place. The performance featured pieces such as the dance Amity and Unity, the song Best Wishes from Beijing, the musical We Are All Stars, the dance Beauty in Harmony, the narration Better Theatre, Better World, the Peking Opera Zhong Kui Ushers in Good Fortune, and choruses Song of Youth and Fill the World with Love. Students from the CAD Departments of Acting, Musical Theatre, Peking Opera, Western Opera, and Dance Drama delivered wonderful performances.

 

Dance Amity and Unity

 

Song Best Wishes from Beijing

 

Musical We Are All Stars

  

Dance Beauty in Harmony

 

Narration Better Theatre, Better World

 

Peking Opera Zhong Kui Ushers in Good Fortune

 

Choruses Song of Youth, and Fill the World with Love

Through their poetic and dazzling acts, the students conveyed their immense passion and youthful energy to the international audience, showcasing the vibrant spirit of the new generation of artists and the fusion of outstanding traditional Chinese culture with modern elements.

 

Sky lantern show

 

Let us, with passion as our brush,

and theatre as our canvas,

paint a masterpiece of humanity's spirit,

and together, create a better future!

Group photo