On 11 April, Professor Lu Ang, head of the Directing Department at the Shanghai Theatre Academy, met with Jonathan Munby, the visiting Director of Performance (Drama) at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. They conducted a themed lecture and exchange session on "Contemporary British Playwriting and Director Talent Cultivation" with the teachers and students of the Shanghai Theatre Academy
Starting from the future discipline construction at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Jonathan Munby commented that it's a comprehensive and multidisciplinary institution which not only serves as a national conservatory of music but also embraces a full range of performance-related disciplines, thus making it possible for interdepartmental cooperation across the entire college in completing performances. He underscored the significance of international collaboration in theatre. He argued that training of directing talents should not rely on rigid and outdated ideologies, but instead, should encourage students to fully engage in practice and practice comprehensively, based on their understanding of traditional culture, explore their unique potential, and develop teamwork skills. Hence, he looked forward to this visit as an opportunity to exchange ideas and learn with the Shanghai Theatre Academy, and to explore the potential for collaboration.
Professor Lu Ang warmly welcomed and cordially greeted Jonathan Munby upon his visit. He stated that the Department of Directing at the Shanghai Theatre Academy, much like the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, is dedicated to cultivating top-tier artistic talents. Furthermore, the department consistently adheres to the talent development path of "staying grounded locally, embracing global perspectives, integrating Chinese and Western cultures, and bravely innovating", and adheres to a teaching characteristic of "creatively blending internationalization with nationalization". It looks forward to establishing an enduring relationship of exchange and cooperation with the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
At the end of the lecture, several teachers and students from the Shanghai Theatre Academy engaged in a lively discussion with Jonathan Munby. Jonathan Munby elaborated on issues such as "methods and processes of contemporary British musical theatre creation" and "theatrical environment in Wales," offering new perspectives for the cultivation of directing and acting talents and contemporary theatre creation.
