11 June 2014
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-France diplomatic relationship and with the special support of the French Consulate-General in Shanghai, a series of cultural exchange activities are being held in Shanghai including some of them at the Shanghai Theatre Academy (STA).
Two years ago, Ecole Naitonale Superieure des Arts et Techniques du Theatre (ENSATT) signed an agreement with STA to undertake collaborative teaching activities. In the spirit of the agreement, STA opened the China-France Advanced Class for Artistic Creation, a program that is managed by STA College of Creative Studies and attended by students from different colleges/departments of STA. Once again since 2012, ENSATT has recently sent teachers to STA to hold workshops for the students of this class, reflecting the high level of importance that the French side has attached to this cooperative program.
On 6 June, Mr Thierry Pariente, President of ENSATT, who has been to STA for several times, came visited SAT again to have meetings with Prof Han Sheng, President of STA and Prof Gong Baorong, Vice President of STA to review the outcomes of the cooperative program so far and discuss the future steps to bring the program forward, and the two sides reached important consensus in that regard. At the same time, STA also confirmed the invitation for the play, which is adapted from the masterpiece of Guan Hanqin, the famous Yuan Dynasty playwright of China and directed by Mr Bernard Sobel, the famous French director and acted by French performers, to give performances during the week-long Rising Artists Works (RAW) event in October this year.
Taking advantage of the French guests’ visit, STA also hosted an open workshop as part of the “STA French Theatre Art Week”, which was made available to interested members of the general public. At the workshop, there were three Chinese keynote speakers and three French keynote speakers. They were Mr Thierry Pariente, President of ENSATT, Mr Bernard Sobel, famous director and Mr Julien Collereau, an accomplished mime performing artist from France, and Prof Gong Baorong, Vice President of STA, Mr Liu Zhixin, Dean of STA College of Creative Studies and Prof Yang Qingqing of STA College of Creative Studies.
STA President Han Sheng discussing exchange and cooperation with ENSATT President Thierry Pariente
Mr Thierry Pariente and Mr Bernard Soble exchanging views
STA Vice President Gong Baorong speaking at workshop during French Theatre Art Week
Mr Julien Collereau speaking at workshop during French Theatre Art Week
ENSATT teachers coaching students during design art workshop
