From February 26 to March 3, the 18th Ivan Koch International Physical Theatre Competition was held at the Russian State Institute of Performing Arts (RGISI), a long-term partner institution of CAD’s. Invited by RGISI, Wang Jianchun, Head of the Physical Theatre Session of the Department of Acting, Professor Yu Xin, and acting instructor Yan Chao led four students to St. Petersburg, Russia, to participate in the competition.

CAD Faculty and Students at RGISI

Co-organized by the Russian Ministry of Culture and RGISI, the competition welcomed students specializing in theatre directing and acting from around the world. After rigorous preliminary video screenings, semi-finals, and finals, the production ‘The Legend of the White Snake’ by the Department of Acting stood out among over 100 excellent entries, securing the First Prize in the ‘Physical Performance’ category and earning high praise from the judging panel. As the grand finale of the competition, ‘The Legend of the White Snake’ dazzled audiences during the award ceremony. Its breath-taking performance earned prolonged enthusiastic applause from Russian spectators. Sergei Parshin, Chairman of the Organizing Committee and President of the St. Petersburg Theatre Association, lauded the production’s ingenious choreography and the actors’ dynamic physical expressiveness.

Award Ceremony

‘The Legend of the White Snake’ was directed by Wang Jianchun and Yu Xin and performed by Li Yuzhen, Ouyang Yuchen, all sophomores, and Yang Wentao, and Li Linsheng, a 1st-Year student, from the Acting for Theatre, Film and Television program. The team began preparations last year, integrating principles and methodologies from the Chinese School of Acting while drawing deeply from traditional artistic heritage. Inspired by ‘The Legend of the White Snake’, one of China’s four great folk legends, the production masterfully incorporates elements of Chinese dance, martial arts, and water sleeve techniques, embodying the essence of Eastern aesthetics. Through innovative physical storytelling, the piece showcased China’s theatrical traditions on the global stage, exemplifying the successful application and evolution of the Chinese School of Acting.

Stills of ‘The Legend of the White Snake’

During the competition, faculty and students engaged in extensive exchanges with international delegations. They participated in workshops such as ‘Unarmed Stage Combat’, led by Aydar Kalilov, Director of the Physical Theatre Session at the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS), and ‘Stage Fencing’, hosted by Alexander Kulikov, Director of the Physical Theatre Division at the Shchepkin Theatre Institute. Post-workshop discussions with experts further explored approaches to actors’ physical training, broadening global perspectives and enriching artistic insights.

CAD Faculty and Students at Kulikov’s Stage Fencing Workshop

This participation not only facilitated artistic exchange but also served as a cultural bridge, highlighting the professional excellence of our students of Acting and the vitality of China’s emerging artistic professionals. Moving forward, CAD will continue to embrace an open and enterprising ethos, encouraging faculty and students to engage in international platforms. By bringing more Chinese stories to global audiences, we aim to deepen cross-cultural artistic dialogue, cultivate professionals with international vision and exceptional artistry, and contribute to the ongoing development of China’s theatrical systems.