Nassim is an acclaimed work created by renowned Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour, transcends cultural barriers and connects audiences through the universal language of theatre. This year, the Chinese version of Nassim was adapted and invited by Beijing Inside-Out Theatre. It’s a journey from Beijing to Xi’an, inviting different performers each night to unveil the sealed script from a mysterious box. This process highlights the profound influence of language in both separating and uniting people.

The narrative unfolded at the Shanxi Grand Theatre, featuring esteemed actor Benyi Zhang on 9th June and Zichuan Wang on 10th June. Their performances opened new vistas into the power of language and storytelling. The adventure continued at the Beijing Inside-Out Theatre from 22nd to 24th June, where Nassim Soleimanpour collaborated with the Dan Li Ren Comedy Company, offering diverse and insightful interpretations.

The interactive physical performance 25 Feet is a unique Dutch-Chinese collaboration, created by The100Hands, a renowned dance group from the Netherlands. This compelling performance is co-produced with Shanghai 2332 Studio, featuring local adaptations and the artistic talents of Chinese artists Liao Shuyi and Wu Xiaobo. 25 Feet was previewed at 77 Theatre in Beijing, then staged at the Shanghai International Dance Centre Theatre and supported by the Dutch Performing Arts Fund.

25 Feet is an exploration of the nuances inherent in three types of spaces where the most violent or intimate acts tend to occur: intimate social space, personal space, and private space. Participants are invited to join the artists in a journey through these spaces, exploring the subtle and often unnoticed differences within a range of 25 feet. The performance transcends a mere physical exploration, encouraging attendees to navigate through varying degrees of closeness and density, from distant to intimate, thereby examining the intricate relationship between these spaces and the human body.

Uber Happy is an exuberant theatrical piece that captures the lively and sometimes tumultuous lives of delivery drivers. This international co-production with Beijing Inside-Out Theatre was commissioned by and showcased at the Shanghai Jing’an Modern Drama Valley. It featured an innovative collaboration with skilled Chinese actors under the direction of Rachael Savage, Artistic Director of Vamos Theatre. Despite pandemic challenges, Savage creatively led the project, organising remote auditions and rehearsals through online video platforms.

The show was noted for its use of Russell Dean’s specially designed masks. Lasting 15 minutes, Uber Happy combines the talents of three bicycle-riding actors, playful dance routines, light-hearted music, and a series of amusing, unexpected delivery scenarios. At the 2021 Shanghai Jing’an Modern Drama Valley, the show achieved remarkable success, enchanting over 12,600 attendees.

Oedipus and Kings of War was produced by Internationaal Theater Amsterdam, and screened as part of the Wuzhen International Theatre Festival 2021, from 17th October to 20th October.

Ivo van Hove’s Kings of War merges Shakespeare’s plays Henry V, Henry VI, and Richard III into a dynamic performance focusing on political leadership, power, and the ethical dilemmas faced by rulers. Alternatively, Oedipus directed by Robert Icke and performed by the International Theater Amsterdam ensemble, reimagines Oedipus as a 21st-century politician. On election night, he uncovers a devastating secret about his identity, leading to a tragic downfall that highlights the fragility of existence and the challenge of controlling one’s destiny.

ILIAS produced by Orkater was screened as part of the Jinxi Ancient Town Art Festival 2020 in China. The Ilias is a philosophical and absurd journey exploring whether enlightenment invariably leads to morality. It utilises the Trojan War as a means to question human responsibility. In this contemporary adaptation, five young lads portray the roles of four soldiers and one woman, ensnared in a massacre that appears doomed to persist indefinitely.

The Jinxi Ancient Town Art Festival took place from 30th September to 6th October 2020. It comprised four segments: an animation exhibition, performance practice, international discussion, and an art workshop. In the outdoor public areas and historic buildings of the ancient town, 42 works from 11 countries were presented, attracting around 180,000 tourists and art lovers from across the country.

A Doll’s House produced by Jo Strømgren Kompani was screened as part of the Jinxi Ancient Town Art Festival 2020 in China. This adaptation offers a fresh, irreverent perspective on Henrik Ibsen’s classic drama, whilst maintaining its essence and exploring new viewpoints. Traditionally centred on women’s rights, this rendition extends beyond the domestic disputes of Nora and Torvald Helmer. It draws attention to the trio of supporting characters – Kristine Linde, Niels Krogstad, and Doctor Rank – indicating that a subtle shift in focus can uncover more contemporary and diverse interpretations of the play.

The Jinxi Ancient Town Art Festival took place from 30th September to 6th October 2020. It comprised four segments: an animation exhibition, performance practice, international discussion, and an art workshop. In the outdoor public areas and historic buildings of the ancient town, 42 works from 11 countries were presented, attracting around 180,000 tourists and art lovers from across the country.

My Perfect Mind produced by Told by an Idiot, was screened as part of the Jinxi Ancient Town Art Festival 2020 in China. Paul Hunter, the Artistic Director of Told by an Idiot, was interviewed about the company’s approach to Shakespeare as an introduction to the screening. He delivered an online talk with professors from Shanghai Theatre Academy, Guangrun Rong and Mei Wei, and a writer and director from Beijing Opera Theatre, discussing the possibilities of modernising and internationalising traditional Chinese opera.

The Jinxi Ancient Town Art Festival took place from 30th September to 6th October 2020. It comprised four segments: an animation exhibition, performance practice, international discussion, and an art workshop. In the outdoor public areas and historic buildings of the ancient town, 42 works from 11 countries were presented, attracting around 180,000 tourists and art lovers from across the country.

Developed and facilitated the collaboration between the Dutch Performing Arts and the Shanghai International Dance Centre, to produce Dance Out of The Box Festival. The festival highlight includes the Mandarin version immersive physical performance ’25 Feet’, alongside this were six high-definition screenings, available both online and offline, including ‘Between Us,’ ‘Home,’ ‘Vielfalt,’ ‘Freedom,’ ‘Memory Loss Inside,’ and ‘Our House is on Fire.’

These showcases provided Shanghai audiences with a unique opportunity to experience the splendour of international contemporary dance, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of China-Netherlands diplomatic relations. Highlighting the Netherlands, known for its vibrant contemporary dance scene, the festival received special support from the Dutch Performing Arts Fund. More than just a display of artistic talent, the festival offered a platform for meaningful interaction between artists and audiences, while also serving as a gateway to the global forefront of contemporary dance art during the pandemic.

In 2020, the outbreak of the pandemic prompted the development of the innovative Dutch Focus (China) digital platform. This platform served as a hub for information exchange and collaboration enhancement between Chinese and Dutch performing arts practitioners and artists. Dutch Focus (China) was commissioned by the Dutch Performing Arts, a division of the Performing Arts Fund NL. Showcasing over 20 groups, including renowned names such as Club Guy and Roni, Davy Pieters, Nicole Beutler Projects, Via Berlin, and BetweenTwoHands, the platform facilitated continued cultural exchange during the pandemic through digital channels and social media platforms in China.

Shades of Change was produced by the Shandong Academy of Arts and the Shandong Provincial Theatre Creation Studio. Performance Infinity worked closely to the creative team in recommending international artists visiting China for the collaboration and presenting the piece locally in China as well as Slovakia and Hungary.

Shades of Change is inspired by the Chinese traditional culture “I Ching” which try to lead the viewer to change the perspective of the world and the humanities. It is using the third person interpretation of the bird as a creative idea, using the theories in “I Ching” to express the colour and change of the five elements, thus triggering different thinking of the present people treating tradition, treating nature, and treating life. The bird is both a realistic bird and a bird of thought, leading the audience to appreciate and find the beauty that the reality should have.