Listings

Time For Fun by Hand Made Theater

Date: March 25-27－7 pm

Venue: Qinglan Theatre, Beijing

Price: 150-300 yuan

Saint-Petersburg Hands Plastic Theater was created in 2007, all actors graduated from the State Theatrical Academy's puppetry faculty. The main point around which the company was formed was a special ability, even a talent for seeing something unique in ordinary things. Many different arm-hand development exercises helped make it possible for the actors to speak about everything using only their hands. Eventually, it became a genre. Hand Made took part in big shows held in The State Kremlin Palace (Moscow). The theater made performances in European countries such as Finland, Netherlands, Italy, France, Spain, Poland and Bulgaria. Hand Made represented Russia at Cannes Russian Seasons in 2010. During this festival Hand Made received an official invitation to open The Carnival of Venice in Italy. In August 2012 "Hand Made" theater had UK debut and took part in The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, in September. In 2012 theater won the main award of the Poppenspelfestival in Meppel, Netherlands. In 2013-2014 Hand Made performed in USA, Japan, Korea, Serbia, German and Denmark. In 2014 Hand Made performed in Sochi during Cultural Olympiad that accompanied the 2014 Olympic Games.

Contact: 400-610-3721

Hamletas by OKT/Vilnius City Theater

Date: March 12-13－9:30 pm

Venue: Shanghai Drama Art Center

Price: 180-380 yuan

Established in 1998, Oskaras Korsunovas Theater (currently bearing the name of OKT/Vilnius City Theater) from the outset was determined to remain independent. Such a risk certainly did not come without sacrifices: the newly established theater did not have a stable source of income, offices, or rehearsal spaces necessary for efficient and creative work; neither did it have a permanent performance venue to present its productions on a regular basis. This daring step was taken for a single reason: OKT firmly decided to cut all relations with the theatrical reality of that time and create a new reality based on a contemporary theater language. The theater took further risks: it began to stage new dramaturgy, which at that time was hardly presented on the Lithuanian stage, thus proclaiming that the times had changed and the contemporary theater had to reflect the reality of the day. OKT set out to look for new ways to communicate with the audience, and alongside introduced new-style management. Despite a sharp reaction and controversial opinions, the audience received this brave venture with respect and acknowledgement. One could assert that in the long run the young director's artistic project won the theater the name of the most acclaimed and 'audience-friendly' act.

Contact: 400-610-3721