Article 1

These Articles apply to all activities of the Wuzhen Theatre Festival, including the Specially Invited Plays, the Emerging Theatre Artists' Competition, the Wuzhen Dialogues, the Outdoor Carnival, etc.

Article 2

The Wuzhen Theatre Festival's aim is to prosper the theatre industry, nurture theatrical creative talents, enhance the artistic standards of theatrical works, expand the theatre market, strengthen international theatrical exchanges, and emphasize the originality, artistic merit, exploration, and seriousness of theatrical creations.

Article 3

The Wuzhen Theatre Festival Organizing Committee is responsible for the preparation, organization, and implementation of all aspects of the Wuzhen Theatre Festival.

The Competition Jury is responsible for the judging and awarding process for the Emerging Theatre Artists' Competition of the Wuzhen Theatre Festival.

The Artistic Committee is responsible for overseeing the artistic standards of all performance works presented at the Wuzhen Theatre Festival and providing selection recommendations for performances except for the Emerging Theatre Artists' Competition.

Among the aforementioned committees, only the Jury members receive remuneration; positions on the other committees are unpaid.

Article 4

The Wuzhen Theatre Festival is held annually in Wuzhen.

The 12th Wuzhen Theatre Festival will be held from Thursday, October 16, 2025, to Sunday, October 26, 2025.

Article 5

The Wuzhen Theatre Festival Artistic Committee provides recommendations for the selection of candidate plays for the Specially Invited Plays. The Organizing Committee is responsible for inviting theatre companies to participate in the Specially Invited Plays.

The Specially Invited Plays are performed only and do not participate in the award competition.

Article 6

The Wuzhen Theatre Festival Organizing Committee is responsible for selecting and inviting theatre groups to participate in the Emerging Theatre Artists' Competition. The Competition Jury is responsible for judging the shortlisted plays and determining the awards.

In addition to performances, plays in the Emerging Theatre Artists' Competition will compete for one "Best Play Award," one "Most Outstanding Artist Award," and "Special Prizes for Excellence" (maximum three, minimum zero).

Plays meeting the following conditions are eligible for consideration in the Emerging Theatre Artists' Competition:

The director must be 35 years old or younger (inclusive), or if over 35, the submitted play must be the director's first publicly presented stage production.

The play must be created based on the elements of the Emerging Theatre Artists' Competition.

For detailed requirements regarding participants and works, please refer to the 2025 The 12th Wuzhen Theatre Festival Town Award – Emerging Theatre Artists' Competition Regulations.

Article 7

Once a theatre company participating in a Wuzhen Theatre Festival performance program officially confirms acceptance of the invitation and signs the performance agreement, it may not arbitrarily withdraw from the festival performance midway for any reason.

Article 8

For plays with Chinese dialogue, the participating party must provide both Chinese and English versions of the script. For plays with non-Chinese dialogue, the participating party must provide an English version of the script. The Wuzhen Theatre Festival reserves the unilateral right to decide whether to accept plays that do not meet these conditions. Performances will be equipped with electronic surtitles displays in Chinese or English; the Wuzhen Theatre Festival will provide the surtitle equipment.

Article 9                                                        

The Wuzhen Theatre Festival encourages the performance groups to utilize the festival platform for the promotion of their plays, including displaying posters and introductions in designated areas. The Wuzhen Theatre Festival Organizing Committee will require participating parties to provide the promotional posters, brochures, performance photos, cast information, etc.

Article 10

The Wuzhen Theatre Festival invites domestic and international theatre experts to form the Competition Jury. The final award results will be announced at the closing ceremony. The Chairman of the Wuzhen Theatre Festival, or a designated representative appointed by the Chairman, may attend Jury deliberations but holds no voting rights.

Jury members cannot be involved in the production or commercial development of any play in the Emerging Theatre Artists' Competition.

The Jury will determine the following awards:

Best Play Award: A prize of RMB 200,000 (inclusive of individual income tax, which will be withheld and paid by the Wuzhen Theatre Festival Organizing Committee on behalf of the recipient), plus a trophy and a certificate.

Most Outstanding Artist Award: A prize of RMB 60,000 (inclusive of individual income tax, which will be withheld and paid by the Wuzhen Theatre Festival Organizing Committee on behalf of the recipient), plus a trophy and a

certificate.

Special Prize for Excellence: Two sets of round-trip air tickets for the winning team to attend an international art festival in the following year, plus a trophy and a certificate.

Article 11

The application deadline for the Emerging Theatre Artists' Competition is 12:00 PM (noon), August 20, 2025.

Applicants need to log in to the Wuzhen Theatre Festival website www.wuzhenfestival.com, register online via the "Registration" module, fill in all required information for the participating play item by item, confirm that all information is complete, accurate, and true, and then submit the application. Registration and submission of materials for this year's Emerging Theatre Artists' Competition are completed entirely online.

All application materials for the participating play must be sent via email to the Emerging Theatre Artists' Competition official email address: competition@wuzhenfestival.cn no later than 12:00 PM (noon), August 20, 2025.

For inquiries regarding registration, please call the official phone number of the Wuzhen Theatre Festival Organizing Committee: +86 573 88732588.

For detailed registration procedures, please refer to the 2025 The 12th Wuzhen Theatre Festival Town Award – Emerging Theatre Artists' Competition Regulations.

Article 12

The application deadline for the Outdoor Carnival is September 12, 2025.

Applicants need to log in to the Outdoor Carnival section of the Wuzhen Theatre Festival website www.wuzhenfestival.com, download the Outdoor Carnival application form for online application, fill in the required information for the performance, confirm that all information is complete, accurate, and true, and then submit the Outdoor Carnival application form and performance materials (script, video, performance photos).

Performance materials for the application must be sent via email to the Outdoor Carnival official email address: carnival@wuzhenfestival.cn no later than September 12, 2025.

If you need to submit paper documents for the Outdoor Carnival after the application confirmation, they can be sent to the following address:

Outdoor Carnival, Wuzhen Theatre Festival Organizing Committee

No.18 Shifo South Road, Wuzhen Town, Tongxiang Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province, P.R.China

Postal Code: 314501

Tel: +86 573 88732588

Fax: +86 573 88732688

Email: carnival@wuzhenfestival.cn

For inquiries regarding registration, please call the official phone number of the Wuzhen Theatre Festival Organizing Committee: +86 573 88732588.

For detailed registration procedures, please refer to the Recruitment Instruction for the Outdoor Carnival of 2025 the 12th Wuzhen Theatre Festival.

Article 13

All complete materials required for plays invited to or participating in the Wuzhen Theatre Festival (including performance photos, rehearsal photos, posters, cast information, etc.) must be sent to the official designated email address of the Wuzhen Theatre Festival Organizing Committee by the specified deadline.

Article 14

All deadlines mentioned in Articles 11 and 13 must be strictly adhered to.

Article 15

Shipping costs, customs duties, and insurance fees for any relevant materials sent to the Wuzhen Theatre Festival shall be borne by the participating theatre company.

Article 16

Participation in the Wuzhen Theatre Festival constitutes acknowledgement and acceptance of these Articles. Theatre companies, related organizations, or individuals participating in festival activities such as the Specially Invited Plays, the Emerging Theatre Artists' Competition, the Wuzhen Dialogues, the Outdoor Carnival, etc. are obligated to ensure the legality of their performances.

Wuzhen Theatre Festival Organizing Committee

May 9, 2025

I. Mission

The Emerging Theatre Artists' Competition is established to promote the development of original youth theatre, nurture young theatre talents, provide a platform for promising and aspiring young theatre creators to showcase their talents, offer them opportunities to learn from and engage with international theatre masters, and broaden their international perspectives.

II. Objectives

The Emerging Theatre Artists' Competition is open to young theatre practitioners and enthusiasts worldwide, aiming to discover outstanding theatre talents. Due to time constraints, this year's festival will only solicit candidate plays from young theatre creators from the mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions of China.

The Competition supports young theatre talents by providing bonuses and rewards for persisting in creation and future production and performance of their works.

The Competition invites distinguished international theatre professionals to serve as judges, select talented individuals, and promote them onto the global stage.

III. Awards

1. Best Play Award

One play selected from the finalists will be awarded the Best Play Award. The winning team will receive a trophy, a certificate, and a prize of RMB 200,000 (inclusive of individual income tax, which will be withheld and paid by the Wuzhen Theatre Festival Organizing Committee on behalf of the recipient).

2. Most Outstanding Artist Award

One individual will be selected from the finalists for the Most Outstanding Artist Award. Eligible candidates include directors, playwrights, actors/actresses, stage/lighting designers, and other participants. The winner will receive a trophy, a certificate, and a prize of RMB 60,000 (inclusive of individual income tax, which will be withheld and paid by the Wuzhen Theatre Festival Organizing Committee on behalf of the recipient).

3. Special Prize for Excellence

Up to three plays from the 18 shortlisted plays (excluding the Best Play Award winner) will be selected for the Special Prize for Excellence. Each winning team will receive two sets of round-trip air tickets to attend an international art festival in the following year, along with a trophy and a certificate. The number of awards given (maximum three, minimum zero) will depend on the quality of the shortlisted plays and the jury's decision.

IV. Eligibility

Participants must meet the following conditions:

1. Participants must be Chinese individuals residing in mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions of China.

2. The director of the participating play shall act as the team leader. The director must be 35 years old or younger (inclusive). Alternatively, if the director is over 35, the submitted play must be the director's first publicly presented stage production.

3. Each participating team may consist of no more than five members (cast and crew, inclusive). The team must include at least one director and at least one actor/actress; the director and actor/actress can be the same person. The Wuzhen Theatre Festival Organizing Committee will cover domestic overland travel expenses to and from Wuzhen and accommodation in Wuzhen during the competition period for the entire team (up to five members). (See Section VII "Provisions by the Organizing Committee" for details).

4. Participants must arrive in Wuzhen according to the schedule required by the Organizing Committee, attend all meetings, activities, and ceremonies punctually, and participate throughout the entire festival period.

5. Each participating play must be an original work. Participants must guarantee the lawful use of relevant intellectual property rights. If a play is found to be non-original at any time during or after the competition, the Wuzhen Theatre Festival reserves the right to revoke all prize money, trophies, and certificates, pursue legal action, and the infringing individual or group shall bear all consequences arising from the infringement.

6. Cast and crew members of a participating play may only participate in one play and may not be part of multiple teams.

7. The team leader of the participating play must sign a letter of commitment guaranteeing the accuracy of the provided personal information and compliance with the five eligibility criteria mentioned above. If any concealment of facts or violation of eligibility is discovered and verified, the Organizing Committee has the right to disqualify the participants and revoke any awards.

8. The team leader of the participating play cannot be replaced. If replacement of other team members is necessary due to special reasons, an application must be submitted to the Organizing Committee in advance, and the replacement can only proceed upon approval.

V. Guidelines for Entries

Participating plays must adhere to the following conditions:

1. The Wuzhen Theatre Festival Emerging Theatre Artists' Competition sets different elements each year. Entries must be created based on the designated elements. If the work is adapted from an existing piece, its first public performance must have taken place after June 1, 2024. The theme for this year's Wuzhen Theatre Festival is "Swirling Up".

2. Entries must be stage theatre works. The form is not limited (e.g., drama, traditional opera, physical theatre, multimedia theatre), but must meet the following conditions:

(1) The performance duration must not exceed 30 minutes.

(2) The three required thematic elements for the 12th Wuzhen Theatre Festival Emerging Theatre Artists' Competition are: Meteor, Credit Card, Peony Flower. Participants may use the simple tables and chairs provided by the Organizing Committee but are not permitted to make or bring any other large props.

(3) The Organizing Committee will provide professional stage lighting for general illumination and basic atmospheric changes. The theatre lighting plot will be provided to the shortlisted plays after the list is announced.

(4) Each participating play will be allotted a total of 5 hours (divided into 2 sessions) of stage time for preparation before the competition, including setup, rehearsal, and dress rehearsal. Stage usage must strictly follow the schedule arranged by the Organizing Committee.

VI. Selection and Performance Process

1. Preliminary Selection: From now until 12:00 PM (noon), August 20, 2025.

The Preliminary Competition Jury will conduct the initial selection based on online registrations. The list of 18 shortlisted works will be announced on September 21, 2025.

2. Preliminary Round: October 16 - October 26, 2025

Each participating play will have three public performances in a designated theatre in Wuzhen. Members of the Preliminary Competition Jury will choose which performances (public shows or rehearsals) to watch, ensuring each juror watches all 18 shortlisted plays. Rehearsal and performance times are arranged by the Organizing Committee and cannot be changed without authorization.

3. Final Round: On October 23, 2025, after the Preliminary Round concludes, the Final Competition Jury will announce the finalist plays at 11:00 PM. The finalist plays will perform again in rotation on October 25, 2025.

After the final performances, the Final Competition Jury will select one Best Play Award winner, one Most Outstanding Artist Award winner, and up to three (or none) Special Prize for Excellence winners.

VII. Provisions by the Organizing Committee

1. Each of the 18 shortlisted plays is eligible for reimbursement of up to RMB 3,000 for the production and procurement of props related to the entry.

2. All 18 shortlisted plays must participate in public performances during the Wuzhen Theatre Festival. The Organizing Committee will cover the costs of meals, accommodation, and domestic overland travel expenses to and from Wuzhen for up to five members per team during the festival.

3. The Organizing Committee will provide venue, relevant stage facilities, and technical support free of charge for the 18 shortlisted plays to rehearse and perform at designated times and locations to meet performance requirements.

4. The Organizing Committee will provide a designated area free of charge during performance times for the 18 shortlisted plays to display promotional materials.

5. Each of the 18 shortlisted plays will receive a participation certificate.

6. Up to five members from each of the 18 shortlisted plays will receive priority to attend the Wuzhen Dialogues during the festival. Specific arrangements will be notified after the shortlist announcement.

7. Up to five members from each of the 18 shortlisted plays will receive tickets provided by the Organizing Committee to attend two designated performances.

8. Rights as stipulated in the relevant Emerging Theatre Artists' Competition of the 2025 the 12th Wuzhen Theatre Festival Articles.

VIII. Obligations of Participants

1. Participation implies agreement to and compliance with 2025 the 12th Wuzhen Theatre Festival Articles, 2025 the 12th Wuzhen Theatre Festival Award – Emerging Theatre Artists' Competition Regulations, and other relevant rules and regulations of the 2025 Wuzhen Theatre Festival.

2. Should any violation of the above occur during the competition period, the Organizing Committee will provide corrective guidance to the violators. If the correction is ineffective, participants must accept the Organizing Committee's handling of the violation.

3. Guarantee that all identity documents and work-related materials submitted to the Organizing Committee are authentic and legitimate.

4. If the Organizing Committee discovers that the documents provided by a participant are not authentic, it may revoke the participant's right to compete and reclaim any certificates, trophies, and prize money.

5. Guarantee compliance with the unified arrangements of the Organizing Committee during the competition period and refrain from participating in activities unrelated to this competition without prior approval.

6. Participating plays must comply with the performance schedule arranged by the Wuzhen Theatre Festival.

7. The detailed schedule during the festival will be provided in writing upon the participants' arrival in Wuzhen. Barring exceptional circumstances, participants must adhere to the schedule and attend punctually.

8. Guarantee courteous interaction with other participants, judges, and staff.

9. Agree to grant the Wuzhen Theatre Festival the right to use content from the participating work free of charge for event marketing purposes.

10. The Organizing Committee, upon informing the participants, may use text and image materials of all team members free of charge for the promotion and publicity of the Wuzhen Theatre Festival.

11. The Organizing Committee will record the public performances of all participating plays for archival purposes, solely for the promotion and publicity activities of the Wuzhen Theatre Festival. A copy of the recorded video material will be provided to the participants.

IX. Registration Period

From now until 12:00 PM (noon), August 20, 2025.

X. Registration Fee

Free of charge.

XI. Registration Procedure

1. Log in to the Wuzhen Theatre Festival website www.wuzhenfestival.com, register online via the "Registration" module. Fill in all required information for the participating play item by item, confirm that all information is complete, accurate, and true, and then submit the application.

2. Registration and submission of materials for this year's Emerging Theatre Artists' Competition are completed entirely online. Please note the following for online submission:

(1) Print the submitted application form. The team leader (director by default) must hand-sign the commitment letter, then scan it into an electronic version.

(2) Email the hand-signed commitment letter, the application form, the Chinese script, and a complete rehearsal video of the participating play (if the performance language is not Mandarin, the video must have Chinese subtitles) to the official Emerging Theatre Artists' Competition email address competition@wuzhenfestival.cn within the registration period. The video must be uploaded to Baidu Netdisk and the link to the video should be included in the body of the email. The video format must be MP4, with a resolution of at least 720P, and the file size should not exceed 3GB.

3. Upon successful registration, the Wuzhen Theatre Festival Organizing Committee will send a confirmation email. If any submitted materials are missing or require supplementation, we will contact the team leader promptly.

4. For inquiries regarding registration, please call the official phone number of the Wuzhen Theatre Festival Organizing Committee: +86 573-88732588.

XII. Important Notes

1. The Organizing Committee will arrange all activities for the Emerging Theatre Artists' Competition during the Wuzhen Theatre Festival and reserves the right to adjust related matters based on actual circumstances.

2. The performance order for the 18 shortlisted plays will be determined by drawing lots.

3. Participants retain ownership of their work. The creators are solely responsible for any intellectual property disputes related to their plays. If an award-winning work is found to violate relevant regulations, the certificate, trophy, and prize money must be returned.

4. Matters not covered in these regulations are subject to supplementary announcements and amendments by the organizer.

Wuzhen Theatre Festival Organizing Committee

May 9, 2025