THE Fourth Contemporary Theater Biennale will be held in Futian District, Shenzhen from Nov. 24 to Dec. 3, bringing 13 global productions and 29 captivating performances covering original and new works, classical reconstructions and crossover theatrical arts.

In British director Ben Duke’s “Juliet & Romeo,” the two lovers in Shakespeare’s classic tragedy “Romeo and Juliet” don’t die in a misunderstanding, while live together ever after. “HA-M-LET” is a multimedia adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” staged within a projection cube by Peter Mark from the United States. German director Ariel Doron’s funny and painful work, “Plastic Heroes,” deals with tough questions while giving us an unbridled and refreshing puppet show.

Renowned Chinese mainland drama director Meng Jinghui, who serves as the biennale’s art director, will bring his “The Ballad of the Sad Café,” which is based on the 1951 Carson McCullers novel of the same name. In young Hong Kong director Ata Wong Chun-tat’s mesmerizing physical theater show, “Fall and Flow,” Wong draws inspiration from the distinctive elements of Hong Kong martial art films.

The theater biennale is hosted by the Publicity Department of Futian District Committee of the CPC and Futian District Public Culture and Sports Development Center, and co-organized by Meng’s drama studio and ticketing website damai.cn. Professor Shen Lin from the Central Academy of Drama is the art advisor, and stage designer Zhang Wu and visual artist Nie Jingzhu are curators.

In addition to stage shows, the biennale will include two exhibitions of theater music, installations and photos, two forums, four theater workshops conducted by Doron, Nie, Wong and Chinese mainland dancer Yu Erge. Exchanges with local residents and art enthusiasts will also be featured to deepen the exploration of contemporary art in the city.

Meng has had a long and close association with Shenzhen, having been appointed as the cultural consultant for Futian in 2013. Since then, he has been dedicated to bringing the joy of theater to citizens and fostering a new hub for theatrical culture and production in the city.

At a press conference held at the Futian Culture and Sports Center’s Star Theater on Oct. 13, Meng expressed that the Contemporary Theater Biennale echoes Shenzhen’s futuristic and vibrant atmosphere, rich in contemporary and international perspectives. It is also connected to the people in the city who strive to pursue a better life.

“For young contemporary creators, they can explore more possibilities while experiencing the beauty of art and the spirit of the times; this is the significance of the biennale,” he said.

The biennale, inaugurated in 2016, has emerged as one of the most significant theatrical events in Shenzhen and South China. It focuses on showcasing the freshest artistic talent in the world of theater and highlights Shenzhen as a pivotal engine in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, providing a global perspective in contemporary arts.

It will introduce more international theatrical works and bring together outstanding contemporary drama artists to create a pioneering, avant-garde and diverse art exchange platform for Shenzheners and drama professionals in the theater industry. (Cao Zhen)