Actors at the fourth annual Wuzhen Theater Festival will tread the boards from Oct 13 to 22, as the historic town in Zhejiang province celebrates performance arts.

The festival will see plays staged, a young theater artists' competition, an outdoor carnival, Wuzhen dialogues, a theater exhibition, and forums.

Performances will take place across the entire 1,300-year-old town, with audiences invited to actively participate in the feast of theatrics.

Eighteen creative groups have been chosen to come to Wuzhen to perform newly-created works on designated topics this year.

The Wuzhen Dialogues, along with numerous forums, will allow the public to discuss and learn from professionals in the field of dramatic arts.

A theatrical parade makes its way down a historic alley in Wuzhen. [Photo/Qianjiang Evening News]

The play, An Enemy of the People, directed by Jan Klata, will be staged at the festival. The play features impressive 519 different props, as it takes the audience on a surreal and vibrantly creative journey.

The Cherry Orchard from Japan tells three stories through the life of an ancient tree. The stage will be coated with more than 100 bags of fallen leaves.

Tickets for the festival, which were available online, sold out in just one minute according to the organizing committee.

However, for each show the committee has reserved five to 10 tickets which will be available for onsite purchase on the day of the shows.

The Wuzhen Dialogues will offer opportunities for all theater lovers to talk with and to learn from Chinese and international masters. [Photo/Qianjiang Evening News]