From 29 to 30 March 2008, 16 tertiary schools of performing arts from 13 countries and regions in the Asia Pacific region gathered in the Foxi Building of the Shanghai Theatre Academy (STA) to hold the first APB theatre school directors’ conferences,which signified the establishment of a theatre education platform with full vitality.
From 18 to 20 December 2020, Yang Yang, Vice President of STA, and Professor Gong Baorong from STA's International Theatre Studies Centre, attended this year’s online festival and directors’ conference hosted by Ateneo de Manila University of the Philippines. "Mother Courage and Her Children" performed by teachers and students of the Directing Department of our university and the newly created Peking Opera "Mrs Wei" from the Chinese Opera College of our university participated in performance showcase of the online festival, and both were well received by teachers and students observing the performance. Wang Yang, a teacher of the Acting Department participated in the forum on the theme of theatre teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, at which he shared his experience and gains with many foreign teachers, which aroused the interest and an echo among the participating teachers. Tobias Biancone, Director-General of the International Theatre Institute, also attended the conference online, and delivered a speech for the event remotely.
The online directors’ conference discussed such matters as the amendment of the Charter of the Asia-Pacific Bond of Theatre Schools and the strengthening of information mobility among the member schools. At the same time, the directors’ conference also voted for the inclusion of Phare Ponleu Selpak, a Cambodian non-profit arts school, as a new member school.
Although the scale of member schools is different, the enthusiasm of the representatives and teachers of all schools for theatre education is very touching. Because of the adoption of online conference and display of recorded performances this year, the students’participation wasconstrained. It is believed that in the future, whether it is to get together in person or adopt a remote way, the member schools will find an even better way to share their learning achievements and the love for theatre.
