From August 2nd to 6th, Prof. Xu Yongsheng, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Central Academy of Drama, led a delegation to the UK to participate in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The Edinburgh Festival is one of the largest arts festivals in the world, and the Fringe section serves as a crucial platform for young artists from around the globe to showcase their talents and promote cultural exchange. The delegation included Ju Ping, Director of Foreign Affairs Office; Yang Shuo, Party Secretary and Dean of the Department of Directing; Lin Weiran, Director of the Domestic Cooperation and Exchange Office; Zheng Xinwendi, Deputy Party Secretary of the Department; of Musical Theatre, and members of the "Forging the Swords" troupe.

During the Edinburgh Festival, the Academy actively engaged in cultural exchange activities. The delegation visited the Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Edinburgh, where Prof. Xu Yongsheng had an in-depth discussion with Mme Hou Danna, Chinese Acting Consul General in Edinburgh. Xu provided a detailed overview of the Central Academy of Drama's recent achievements in international cultural exchange. The two parties discussed strategies for effectively telling "Chinese stories" on the international stage, especially in the UK and other European countries, and the Academy's ongoing plans to support the global reach of original productions. Hou praised the Academy's efforts in promoting Chinese culture and expressed interest for continued deepening of cooperation, offering stronger support in the field of cultural arts to further advance the communication of Chinese culture abroad.

Prof. Xu Yongshen with Mme Hou Danna

During the visit, the Central Academy of Drama delegation also met with Ms. Sarah Dodd, the Arts Industry Manager of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, and Ms. Meabh Walton, the Arts Industry Coordinator. They engaged in a thorough discussion about potential future collaborations in the arts sector. Xu stated that the Academy has always been committed to promoting Chinese theatre globally and hoped that participating in the Edinburgh International Festival would strengthen exchanges and cooperation with international artists, fostering mutual appreciation and integration of cultures. The committee members highly praised the Academy's production, "Forging the Swords," and expressed a willingness to explore further collaborations, aiming to bring more outstanding Chinese theatre to the Edinburgh Festival. Both sides agreed that cultural and artistic exchange is a crucial means of promoting international relations and friendship, and that the Edinburgh International Festival, as one of the world's most significant arts festivals, provides a broader platform for Chinese artists.

Meeting with Members of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society

“Forging the Swords” Received Outstanding Reviews

The “Forging the Swords” Troupe

The Troupe’s Promotional Performance on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh

Group Photo After the Performance

From August 3rd to 9th, a student team from the Central Academy of Drama, comprising the Departments of Acting, Directing, Stage Design, Peking Opera, Dance Theatre, and Theatre Management, performed the original adaptation of Lu Xun’s novel “Forging the Swords" at the C-Aurora Theatre in Edinburgh. The production drew significant attention from the audience due to its profound themes and unique national artistic expressions. The troupe not only captivated audiences with their outstanding performances but also actively engaged in street promotions. Their distinctive Chinese presentation attracted many passers-by, who eagerly captured the memorable moments with their cameras. This culturally rich promotional approach encouraged more spectators to enter the theatre and experience the unique appeal that is Chinese theatre.

There were seven rounds of performances of "Forging the Swords" in the Fringe section, with enthusiastic audience responses leading to nearly half of the shows being sold out. Both domestic and international audiences engaged passionately with the actors after the performances, expressing admiration for the play’s spiritual and artistic content. International theatre critics also awarded the production a "four-star rating," praising it for successfully interpreting the complex emotions and human reflections of traditional Chinese culture through a modern theatrical form and showcasing the unique charm of Chinese theatre on the global stage.

        “An wonderfully entertaining piece of theatre that combined well-choregraphed martial arts, paper mache puppetry and Nuo opera.”

--Megan·Amato from Scottish Field

Support from Consulate General of the PRC in Edinburgh and CAD Alumnus

On August 9th, Mr. Zhang Biao, Chinese Consul General in Edinburgh, and Mr. Jin Dong, deputy director of China Coal Mine Art Troupe and a distinguished alumnus of the Academy, watched the performance of "Forging the Swords." After the show, Zhang Biao extended his warm congratulations to the troupe for their successful performance and highly praised the students' exceptional work. He noted that "Forging the Swords" not only showcased the profound heritage of Chinese traditional culture but also elevated Chinese culture to the international stage through modern theatrical forms. He expressed hope that the Central Academy of Drama would continue to create more outstanding "Chinese stories" and use international arts festivals to further spread Chinese culture worldwide.

Jin Dong expressed the immense pride and excitement he felt when seeing his juniors perform in Edinburgh. He encouraged the students to cherish this valuable artistic experience and use it as a source of inspiration for future creative work, contributing more to the development of Chinese theatre. He also shared his own experiences in artistic creation, urging the students to persist in their exploration and innovation in their artistic careers.

Zhang Biao and Jin Dong with the "Forging the Swords" Troupe

“China Focus” Globalizing Chinese Culture

The "China Focus" is a series of events supported by the International Exchange and Cooperation Bureau of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. In 2017, the Shanghai International Arts Festival Center first hosted the first version in Edinburgh. This April, the Center issued another "Call for Contestants," and a selection team comprising professionals, including festival directors from Edinburgh, meticulously chose eight outstanding works. These works will be featured in this year’s "Focus on China" segment of the Edinburgh Festival for their global promotion. As a bridge for cultural exchange, the festival is committed to enhancing mutual cultural understanding between China and foreign countries, increasing the international influence of Chinese culture, and continually strengthening national cohesion and cultural impact through branded events.

On August 8th, the Center held a press conference for "The Globalization of Chinese Originals," officially announcing a list of thirteen artistic works for international promotion. This list includes the eight outstanding Chinese original works to be showcased globally in the "China Focus" segment at the Edinburgh Festival, along with several other works already presented or set to be presented worldwide. "Forging the Swords," produced by the Central Academy of Drama, is the only work from an art academy to be selected.

The CAD’s outstanding performance at the 2024 Edinburgh International Festival represents another significant milestone in exploring the global outreach of Chinese culture. As cultural exchanges between China and the world continue to deepen, Chinese dramatic arts are bound to shine even more brightly on the international stage.