The 11th Shanghai International Comedy Festival concluded on Jan 10, with the closing performance featuring the Hungarian children's play Ann-Droid at the Lyceum Theatre.

Over 79 days, the festival staged 250 performances of more than 50 comedy productions from around the world, setting a 10-year record for the number of productions.

Produced by Hungary's Bandart Productions, Ann-Droid: The Wonderful Adventures of a Robot Girl is often compared to a modern Pinocchio tale, which blends interactive technology and live performance, taking audiences on an immersive journey with the robot girl protagonist.

The festival also featured performances from countries including Italy, Spain, and Australia.

Local plays made a strong impression as well. 

Today's Name is Shanghai, the festival's opening show, tells the story of tenants from different countries living in an old-style apartment building, where cultural misunderstandings arise but ultimately give way to mutual understanding and harmony.

Due to its popularity, the play will return for additional performances from Jan 23 to 25.

In addition, a special "Comedy in the Street" series presented 15 free performances at popular venues such as Xintiandi, bringing stage shows to commercial spaces.

The festival also partnered with brands to extend cultural experiences into dining, shopping, and tourism.

Over its 11-year history, the comedy festival has become a key cultural event, showcasing more than 330 productions from 28 countries and regions.

Source: Xinmin Evening News