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The 12th Wuzhen Theatre Festival opened at Wuzhen Grand Theatre in Jiaxing, East China's Zhejiang province, on Oct 16, marking the start of an 11-day celebration of drama, art, and culture.

The 12th Wuzhen Theatre Festival opens at Wuzhen Grand Theatre in Jiaxing. [Photo/WeChat account: jxfabu]

A lively opening parade began at Riyue Square and concluded at the theatre, where actors and theatre enthusiasts released balloons to symbolize their shared hopes and excitement. The opening performance, Anthropolis — a nine-hour production by Deutsches SchauSpielHaus Hamburg — was directed by renowned German stage director Karin Beier. Presented in three parts, the play is making its China debut at the festival, with two rounds of performances scheduled.

The opening parade of the 12th Wuzhen Theatre Festival begins at Riyue Square. [Photo/WeChat account: jxfabu]

This year's event featured 25 productions from 10 countries, presented in 71 performances across 10 venues. The lineup included 15 international productions and 10 acclaimed Chinese works.

For the first time, the popular Theatre Market came to the Xizha scenic area with lively music, installations, exhibitions, flash events, and food stalls along the canals. Highlights included a stage excerpt from Zhang Yimou's Macau 2049, which blended traditional Chinese crafts with modern stage technology.

Xizha scenic area is bustling during the 12th Wuzhen Theatre Festival. [Photo/WeChat account: jxfabu]

From Oct 16 to 26, ticket holders can also enjoy discounted admission to Puyuan Fashion Resort, further enriching their cultural experience during the festival season.