An international children's theater performance season is set to debut on Sept 12, with performances in Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou in Jiangsu province, and Hangzhou in Zhejiang province. The event will feature a diverse lineup of high-quality children's plays from Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and beyond.

With innovative formats such as immersive painting, puppet music, and picture books, the festival promises an artistic and interactive theater experience for children aged 0-12 and their families.

Highlights:

Belgium's Plock! is an immersive studio theater inspired by the US abstract expressionist master Jackson Pollock. It blends painting and performance, as actors use their bodies as brushes and the stage as their canvas. Audience members, wearing raincoats, become part of the art creation, adding a unique interactive element to the experience.

From the Netherlands, the award-winning classic play Beech! will captivate audiences with its realistic beechwood cabin and anime visual style. The play features contributions from a veteran Dutch voice actor known for voicing Donald Duck, creating a fusion of sound and visuals for an unforgettable stage effect.

France presents two equally captivating productions. Et Puis (And Then) is a dynamic picture book musical theater adapted from a bestselling picture book by the Louis Vuitton collaborative art studio Icinori. Using puppets, light and shadow, and live music, it connects 13 cross-page scenes, portraying the natural transitions of the four seasons. Additionally, La Maison en Petits Cubes (The House of Small Cubes), adapted from the 2009 Oscar-winning Best Short Animation, is reimagined by the French puppet and shadow theater, offering a whimsical journey for children and a gentle reflection for adults.

Interactive workshops and art labs

Throughout the season, participating artists will lead theater experience workshops and art labs, covering a range of topics including puppet making, body development, and music interaction. These sessions will provide children with the opportunity to engage in theater creation, fostering their artistic enlightenment and skill development through hands-on practice.

Performance venue

The Shanghai segment will be held at the West Bund Theatre. Follow its official WeChat account for more information and updates.

Source: Shanghai Observer