Beijing stages a global gathering of plays

Beijing People's Art Theatre International Theatre Festival kicked off on Saturday.

Running until Nov 26, the festival will bring together artists, audiences and ideas under the theme "Gathering", setting the tone for a festival that promises dazzling performances and meaningful connections.

Over six weeks, the city's most iconic theater spaces, such as the Capital Theatre, the Cao Yu Theatre at the Beijing International Theatre Center, and the small theater and experimental theater of Beijing People's Art Theatre, will host more than 50 events. The lineup includes 14 acclaimed productions from nine countries, staged in 42 performances offering both large-scale invited works and an all-new small theater program. Theatergoers can participate in workshops, art lectures, theatrical screenings, and forum sessions, which will spark dialogue and immerse audiences from multiple perspectives.

Highlights will include The Threepenny Opera, by the Berliner Ensemble (Brecht Theater), Germany, making its debut in Beijing during the festival, The Servant of Two Masters by the Piccolo Teatro di Milano, and the return of the Georgian New Theatre, which will stage its production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.