Wuzhen town in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province. [Photo/jiaxingren.com]

The 11th Wuzhen Theater Festival opened on Oct 17 in Wuzhen town, Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, transforming the ancient water town into a vibrant hub of theater and art.

For 11 days, Wuzhen will host 86 performances of 24 productions across 11 countries, featuring everything from classics to novel theater and dance dramas.

The festival will also include an emerging theater artist competition, an outdoor carnival, and town dialogues. Eleven venues will be used, including the Wuzhen Grand Theater, which will feature the opening play We are Leaving. 

At Shen Estate Teahouse Theater, the performance Lying Flat 2.0 will offer a unique experience with movable beds instead of traditional seats. The new Dream Granary in the Beizha Arts Zone, converted from old grain warehouses, will host a series of imaginative performances.

Wuzhen has evolved into an artistic and cultural hub as well as a spiritual home and pilgrimage site for young artists. As Huang Lei, founder and chief producer of the festival, said, "May your spirit be like a torch and your beliefs as firm as a rock."