DIALOGUE OF DRAMATISTS: Chinese-American dramatist Stan Lai (first left), Eugenio Barba (second left), director and founder of Odin Teatret in Denmark, together with Nicola Savarese (second right) from University Romatre, discuss the performing arts during the Wuzhen Theatre Festival (FILE)

BROADWAY DAZZLES: Actors from American playwright Robert Brustein's The Last Will rehearse a scene at the Ancient Courtyard Theater in Wuzhen on May 15 (FILE)

CLASSIC ON SHOW: The Chinese drama Four Generations Under One Roof, originally written by Lao She, is performed by the National Theatre of China in Wuzhen on May 19 during the theater festival (FILE)

Email us at: baishi@bjreview.com

About Wuzhen

Wuzhen, a 1300-year-old water town on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, in northern Zhejiang Province, is one of China's most famous historical and cultural towns.

The ancient Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal flows through it, promoting the prosperity of the small town. Over the centuries, the town has preserved its ancient architecture and the traditional way of life of its people. Most buildings in Wuzhen have survived hundreds of years of weathering and remain intact. In 2001, the town was named a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage candidate. At the end of 2006, it was included in the revised List of China's Candidates for UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.