With the tagline "Cosmopolitan Jing'an, Drama in the air", the 2025 Shanghai Jing'an Theatre Festival is gearing up to take place from April 25 to June 2.

The festival focuses on three core sectors, including a number of world-class theater productions, charity performances and community events and an array of activities integrating theatre with culture, commerce, tourism and more. It aims to offer a city-wide cultural extravaganza.

World-class theater productions

During the festival, 20 domestic and international theatrical masterpieces will be staged in a total of 84 performances. Nearly 90 percent of the overseas plays and over 85 percent of all the plays in Shanghai will be premiering in China.

These productions feature an opening show called The Age of Awakening and a closing drama called The Garden of Delights, as well as many other collaborations, such as Julie, Uncle Vanya, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

The event has attracted artists and groups from countries such as France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Russia, and Canada, showcasing the pinnacle of global theatrical standards. In a commitment to accessibility, the festival ensures affordability for all, with a minimum ticket price of 100 yuan ($13.7) and a maximum ticket price for international performances not exceeding 680 yuan.

Charity performances and community events

This year's festival covers all 14 districts, presenting hundreds of public performances and community activities and creating a "One street, one production" community theater matrix.

In addition, activities such as mobile container theaters, theater buses, and cultural and tourism check-in maps, will help create new cultural landmarks by seamlessly integrating theater into daily life.

Theater and more

With a focus on the integration of culture, tourism, business, sports and exhibitions, the festival highlighted the integration of theater with a diverse array of industries. By collaborating with major consumer hotspots across Jing'an district, it aims to empower urban development through cultural consumption.

A series of consumer-focused events will be held at the district's main theaters, commercial areas, and hotels, including Jiu Guang Shopping Center, CITIC Pacific Plaza, and Joy City.

Source: Jing'an district government