A grand theater festival integrating drama staging, innovation and scenarios of nature has unfolded in Qinhuangdao City of north China's Hebei Province, with a total of 94 performances shown in 15 venues to present a visual and audio feast for drama devotees.

The theater festival has drawn artists from 12 countries including China, France, and the United Kingdom, delivering a multisensory celebration featuring drama staging, music playing and visual art performance.

At the event, a grand beachside performance, titled "Eurydice and Sea", takes on new life through dynamic staging and immersive interaction, offering the audience a fresh and modern experience against the backdrop of the ocean.

"This kind of performance feels very avant-garde -- we all love it," said an audience member.
"There was the moment when the subtitles came on near the end and the sun began to rise -- it was truly moving," said another audience member.

This year's lineup spans a wide range of theatrical genres including the absurd and physical theater.

Highlights include "Classical Love", a modern adaptation of notable Chinese novelist Yu Hua's work exploring contemporary relationships, "L'Addition" (the Bill) and a British-style comedy full of surprising twists.

Renowned Chinese theater director Meng Jinghui, who also participated in the festival, highly commented on the event's diversity and spirit.
"There's kind of richness in the way the festival is presented, from the thrill of seeing the sun at dawn, to the philosophical musings of a robot at sunset, and to the reflection on scenarios in the play -- it's all passionate and youthful," he said.

The 14-day-long festival that kicked off on June 19 also features theater readings, theatrical competitions, seaside screenings, dialogues and exchanges, art exhibitions, theatrical parades and bonfire parties.

First held in June 2021, the Aranya Theater Festival aims to erase the boundaries of art with diverse, contemporary, open and inclusive expressions and forms. The theme of this year's event is "Exception and Rule."