Beijing festival showcases diverse voices from world theater

The 2026 International Contemporary Theatre Festival and Beijing International Theatre Assembly opened on Sept 5 at the China National Opera House in Beijing, with the Zhejiang Wu Opera Troupe's The Monkey King Fights the White Bone Demon Thrice as the opening production.

The award-winning Wuju Opera production, which received the 18th Wenhua Award, brings the classic Journey to the West tale to the stage through dynamic martial arts. Dazzling acrobatics and elaborate fight sequences are combined with modern stage technology, giving the legendary battle between the Monkey King and the White Bone Demon a distinctly contemporary edge.

Jointly organized by the China Theatre Association and the Beijing Federation of Literary and Art Circles, the festival aims to build an international platform for theatrical exchange and foster dialogue among civilizations.

From September to November, 14 productions from across China, including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, as well as South Korea, Singapore, France and Brazil, will be staged at 10 Beijing theaters. The lineup spans Wuju Opera, Peking Opera, Cantonese Opera, spoken drama, puppetry and musicals, presenting a diverse panorama of contemporary theater.

The festival will also feature forums, seminars, arts talks and post-show discussions.