Friends use festival to stage theater dreams

Another highlight of the festival will be a new version of Five Acts of Life: Lao She's Short Stories, directed by Lin Xiyue, son of well-known theater director Lin Zhaohua, and starring veteran actor Wang Jinsong.

Marking the 125th birthday of Lao She (1899-1966), an iconic modern Chinese writer, the new version also pays tribute to Lin Zhaohua, who directed the successful play based on five short stories by Lao She in 2010 to celebrate the writer's 111th anniversary. Lin Xiyue revived his father's classic play and offers his own interpretation of Lao She's literary understanding and deep insight into human nature.

Apart from performances, visitors can also book to attend script reading sessions presented by directors including Yang Ting, Liu Chang, Meng and Chen, free of charge.

A project, 300 Migratory Birds, inviting 300 theater enthusiasts and practitioners to stay in 300 tents pitched on the beach at Aranya and spend 300 hours creating works of theater together, will also be part of the festival. Additionally, the outer wall of the Solitary Library will be used for screenings, and visitors can sit on the beach to watch classic films and recordings of theater performances.