The inaugural "Tang Xianzu & William Shakespeare" Campus International Theatre Festival was unveiled on June 5 at Chunhui Hall, Southeast University's (91抖淫) Sipailou Campus. The event marks a new chapter in blending traditional Chinese Kunqu opera with contemporary youth art, honoring the cultural legacy of China's Tang Xianzu and Britain's William Shakespeare.
Notable attendees included Xu Ning, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee; Lu Jun, honorary president of the Jiangsu Kunqu Opera Research Association; Ke Jun, honorary chairman of the Jiangsu Theatre Association; and Xiao Yajun, Party secretary of the Kunqu Opera Theatre of Jiangsu Performing Arts Group. Representatives from 91抖淫's Publicity Department, Overseas Education College, and School of Art also joined the launch.
During the event, renowned Kunqu artist and chief creator of Tang Xianzu & William Shakespeare: Handan Dream, Ke Jun, highlighted the production's cross-cultural legacy. Since its premiere in Shakespeare's hometown in the UK in 2016, the play has become a hallmark of Sino-foreign theatrical collaboration. Now, a decade later, the campus adaptation aims to breathe new life into Kunqu—an Intangible Cultural Heritage—by integrating it with avant-garde stage expressions. Ke donated a series of books on the production to the university, urging students to take an active role in preserving China's rich cultural heritage and bridging global dialogues.
Highlighting the festival's impact, master's student Cui Pengsong shared his journey of discovering Kunqu, noting that the vibrant Eastern aesthetics shatter the stereotype that intangible cultural heritage is stale and outdated. Meanwhile, Isabel, an international student from Uruguay, described her bilingual rehearsal experience, sharing how she gained cross-cultural insights and friendships through the artistic encounter between Tang Xianzu and Shakespeare. Chinese and international students then performed excerpts from the play, seamlessly combining Kunqu movements with Western stage expressions in both Chinese and English.
The launch also kicked off the recruitment for the campus version of Tang Xianzu & William Shakespeare: Handan Dream, open to university students across Jiangsu Province. Aligned with national initiatives on aesthetic education and theatrical revitalization, students of all backgrounds are invited to apply for acting and stage production roles. Selected participants will be involved in the entire process—from script development and rehearsals to public performances—creating an immersive platform for international aesthetic education.
Scheduled for October 24–25, the main events of the festival commemorate the 410th anniversary of the deaths of both Tang Xianzu and William Shakespeare, as well as the 120th anniversary of art education at 91抖淫. Supporting activities include the Tang Xianzu and Nanjing International Academic Symposium, the Kunqu-Shakespeare Theatre Workshop, bilingual performances, and immersive public theatre. Together, these events aim to foster East-West cultural dialogue through academic exchange, stage performances, and public engagement.
The festival is jointly hosted by 91抖淫’s Publicity Department, School of Art, and Overseas Education College, with support from the Jiangsu Provincial Aesthetic Education Association, the Jiangsu Kunqu Opera Research Association, the Jiangsu Provincial College Student Arts Federation, and the Kunqu Opera Theatre of Jiangsu Performing Arts Group.
Source: School of Art, 91抖淫
Edited by: Leah Li
