Peter Brook's The Valley of Amazement to Take Centre Stage at Wuzhen Theatre Festival

WUZHEN, China, Aug. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The ancient Chinese water-town of Wuzhen has officially announced that Tony Award winning theatre director Peter Brook will act as honorary president of the 3rd Wuzhen Theatre Festival, to be held from October 15-24, 2015. The committee confirmed at the press conference on July 25 that his new play The Valley of Amazement will join the convention as part of the festival.

As an important platform for drama and cultural exchange between Chinese and Western styles, the Wuzhen festival will offer 73 performances of over 20 top plays from 12 countries, introducing foreign dramas to Chinese audiences and allowing visitors to enjoy an unparalleled nine-day global theatre experience.

"It's a celebration of Eastern and Western dramas," said Chen Yu, chief executive of Wuzhen Theatre Festival. "Wuzhen aims to promote cross-cultural communications among countries."

Eight national theatre troupes will gather at the Wuzhen Theatre Festival to perform several world-class plays never before seen on stage in China, including:

• The Physicists from Zurich Playhouse
• Chaos from Lithuanian National Drama Theatre
• The Ring of the Nibelungs from Thalia Theatre Hamburg
• The Presence from Moscow Theatre on Taganka
• Portraits of The Cherry Orchard from Song of the Goat Theatre, Poland

A selection of classical comedies from Turin Royal Theatre will also be on show, in addition to a return for Two Dog's Opinions About Their Lives from the National Theatre Company of China, a unique experience of contemporary Chinese arts.

Inaugural Master Classes are another festival highlight, giving people the opportunity to learn from such theatrical greats as Thomas Ostermeier, Suzuki Chushi and Chinese directors Lai Shengchuan, Shi Hang and Shen Lin.

"Art doesn't have borders," emphasised Yu. "We believe its glamour can be enjoyed by people regardless of nation and language. We look forward to more excellent plays from around the world coming to our stages and sharing the beauty and charm of the arts."

For tickets please visit www.wuzhenfestival.com or call +86-573-88731088

About Wuzhen Theatre Festival

The 2015 Wuzhen Theatre Festival will take place in the 1,300-year-old water-town of Wuzhen, an hour's drive from Shanghai. The theme of this year's festival is Transmittance, symbolising the inheritance of art and culture as a way to encourage the creative arts in young people. Performances will mainly be at Wuzhen Theatre and the city's historic Ancient Courtyard Theatre.