Please come here to explore the drama and dance projects we did or supported in China: Madame Butterfly (2007), 42 Street (2007), The Taming Of The Shrew (2007), Mamma Mia! (2007), Edinburgh Showcase(2007), UK MOVES(2007)...

Events in September 2010

Kiosk: an art project inspired by Shanghai
Co-supported by Cultural and Education Section of the British Consulate General, Kiosk project is based on the possibility of contemporary art, technology and ethics, adapting the substance of the traditional kiosk and building a worldwide Kiosk network formed by the artist group step by step. The Kiosk project will be implemented through videos and other media to get kiosks connected. Exchange on skills and information is aimed to be splendidly initiated by artists from worldwide communities. The Shanghai part of the Kiosk project will be carried out through video links, such as Skype, etc., to make different community residents able to communicate and interact directly. Please click here to read more.

Forword Motion - Leading British Screen Dance Screening
Featuring historic, seminal and ground breaking films, Forward Motion creates a moving snapshot of Britain’s prolific screen dance output. A British Council project co-produced with South East Dance and supported by Arts Council England; the collection has been curated by an expert committee comprised of representatives from these three organisations alongside artists, producers and academics. Forward Motion is designed for screenings and events in the UK and worldwide over the next three years, not only celebrating British screen dance talent but also engaging new artists, markets, audiences and participants in this exciting artform. Please click here to read more.

Bahok Farewell In Beijing (2010)
Bahok, named after the Bengali word meaning ‘carrier’, explores the ways in which the body carries national identity and a sense of belonging. Khan’s dancers come from diverse cultures, traditions and dance backgrounds – Chinese, Korean, Indian, South African and Spanish – and this rich mix of both spoken and dance language pushes the boundaries of movement vocabulary. Khan once again joins forces with long-time collaborator and multi award-winning composer Nitin Sawhney, who has created an original score for bahok. Please click here to read more.

International Master Class on Directing (UK) (2010)
This event will be hosted by the Directing Department of STA, supported by the British Council. Four internationally renowned directors from U.K. will be invited to give lectures and conduct workshops on directing. Each International director will be teaching for one week, including fours days for lectures or workshops, the fifth day for the students’ presentation, and the last two days for the director and students to sum up the week by discussion. Please click here to read more.

Family Hold Back by Curious (2009)
Family Hold Back is a highly visual, darkly comic and very well mannered performance airing the perversities of politeness of the English dinner table. Free Performance in English with Chinese subtitles. Phone/email registration in advance is essential. Performance will be followed by an artist talk by Curious. Please click here to read more.

Forward Motion Guangzhou Premier in Jumping Frames Dance Video Festival (2009)
Co-produced by the British Council and South East Dance, Forward Motion is a compilation of historic, seminal and groundbreaking dance videos that creates a stream of moving snapshots of the UK’s prolific screen dance output. It celebrates British screen dance talents as well as engaging new artists, audience and participants to this exciting niche art form. Guangzhou’s premiere screening, with post-screening discussion session, is part of the Jumping Frames Dance Video Festival: Guangzhou presented by City Contemporary Dance Company of Hong Kong and Guangdong Modern Dance Company.

National Dance Company Wales China Tour (2009)
The China tour of the National Dance Company of Wales (NDCW) is primarily funded and organised by the British Council in Chongqing with contributions and support from the Chongqing Administration of Culture, Television and Radio, the Welsh Assembly Government and Wales Arts International. This cutting-edge performance by NDCW is an excellent fit with the British Council's objective to harness the power of contemporary British arts and culture to build relationships of mutual benefit worldwide. Please click here and read more.

Scottish Dance Theatre China Tour (2009)
The Scottish Dance Theatre (SDT) is a member of the Dundee Rep Theatre's creative community and one of the leading dance theatre companies in the UK. SDT is a company on the move, constantly stretching the skills and talents of ten powerful and committed dancers under the guidance of Artistic Director Janet Smith and touring regularly throughout the UK and internationally. Please click here and read more.

TNT Theatre’s Romeo & Juliet and Gulliver’s Travels (2009)
TNT Theatre was founded in 1980 in Britain and since has established itself as one of the most popular international touring theatre companies in the world. Please click here and read more.

OPEN International Performance Art Festival (2009)
OPEN is the largest and longest-running non-governmental international Performance Art Festival in China. Founded in 2000 to establish a free international performance art platform in the spirit of openness, pluralism, equality, and experimentation, it is now celebrating its tenth anniversary. There were 13 UK artists including Dr Bill Aitchison attending this festival. Please click here to read more.

Scottish Ballet China Tour (2009)
This classical ballet company performs across the UK and abroad. Its repertoire includes new versions of the classics, seminal pieces from the 20th century modern ballet canon, signature pieces by living choreographers and new commissions. As a truly national company, The Scottish Ballet regularly performs at theatres throughout Britain and its long history of touring internationally includes visits to Malaysia, Portugal, Ireland, and Hong Kong. Please click here to read more.

2009 International Young Performing Arts Entrepreneur Award (IYPAE) (2009)
The British Council presented The International Young Performing Arts Entrepreneur (IYPAE) Award for the second time in 2009. This award seeked to champion and celebrate the importance of creative entrepreneurs working in the field of the performing arts. In August 2009 the finalists arrived in the UK for a two-week tour of the national performing arts sector. The tour comprised visits, meetings, seminars, events and shows. It also included a master class with an internationally renowned UK performing arts entrepreneur during which the finalists were able to ask questions about the development of the his or her successful performing arts business. Please click here to read more.

TNT Theatre Britain Oliver Twist (2009)
Oliver Twist has been described as the first modern novel. It is one of the few novels whose characters have entered into modern myth. Oliver, Fagin, Bill, Nancy and the Artful Dodger can claim to be some of the best known literary creations outside of Shakespeare. TNT sweeps away the sentimentality of so many versions and presents the story through the eyes of Fagin as he stands on the gallows awaiting execution. The story is his last attempt at justifying his life of crime. Please click here to read more.

In-I by Akram Khan & Juliette Binoche (2009)
Internationally acclaimed contemporary dancer and choreographer Akram Khan and Oscar-winning actress Juliette Binoche have joined forces to create a major new work of dance theatre. In-I premiered at the National Theatre in London on 18 September 2008 and has since been touring internationally. Turner prize-winning artist Anish Kapoor has designed the set for this exciting production and award-winning composer Philip Sheppard has created the original score. Please click here to read more.

Performance in Profile 2009 (2009)
We are pleased to announce the publication of the 2009 edition of Performance in Profile, our directory of drama, dance, live art and outdoor work. The directory includes brief statements of artistic policy, details of shows available for international touring, and contact information for a total of 238 selected UK artists and companies working across the disciplines of dance, drama, live art and outdoor work. Please click here to read more.

China Tour of Birmingham Royal Ballet Britain and Royal Ballet Sinfonia (2009)
BRB is welcomed enthusiastically around the world. The Company has recently completed successful tours to the USA, Hong Kong and South Africa, and plans to increase its international profile. 50 years since the Royal Charter was first bestowed, BRB is looking forward with renewed vigour and security. Please click here to read more.

Best of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival – a Celebration of UK Performance (2008)
From 4 November to 7 December, this Festival brought together some of the UK's finest new productions in Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing. Over the course of five weeks, audiences had a rare opportunity to sample a range of the unique styles and traditions that made up contemporary UK theatre. Alongside the performance programme, the Festival included a series of post-show talks open to the general public. There were also forums and late night networking opportunities in Beijing and Shanghai to enable Chinese artists and producers to talk with the companies about their work, creative process and the UK arts scene. Please click here to read more.

International Radio Playwriting Competition 2009
The British Council, in partnership with BBC World Service, launched its 11th International Playwriting Competition on 18 October 2008. The competition invited writers from around the world to write a one-hour radio play on any subject, with the winning entries being broadcast on BBC World Service in November 2009. The closing date for applications was 31 March 2009. Please click here to read more.

TNT Theatre Britain's The Canterville Ghost (2008)
The Canterville Ghost is a popular 1887 novella by Oscar Wilde, widely adapted for the screen and stage. Despite its contradictions and evasions, it is still a fairy story, which is not the same thing as a children’s tale. It is a mark of Wilde´s skill that he is able to write a modern fairy story that is as macabre and complex as anything by the brothers Grimm or Hans Anderson. Please click here to read more.

China-UK Arts Management Dialogue (2008)
The Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy in partnership with the UK’s Clore Leadership Programme organised the China-UK Arts Management Dialogue with the support of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Four UK leaders from the arts and cultural sector gathered in Shanghai for the first time alongside Chinese counterparts to explore current issues affecting both Chinese and UK cultural organisations with a specific focus on arts education, participation, marketing and fundraising. In addition to professional development, the Dialogue provided a networking opportunity for local Chinese arts managers and aimed to strengthen cultural exchange and cooperation between the UK and China. Please click here to read more.

The Taming Of The Shrew (2008)
One of Shakespeare’s most well known and popular comedies. TNT Theatre has been touring Shakespeare’s major works to a worldwide audience for over six years, all directed by Paul Stebbings. Previous productions include MACBETH, HAMLET, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, ROMEO & JULIET and KING LEAR. Please click here to read more.

100 Words Project (2008)
Carrying the legacy of the Olympic Games from Beijing 2008 to London 2012, 100 Words invited young people from both China and Britain to create a script using no more than 100 words or Chinese characters. 100 Words returned to Beijing on 7 July to run a week long workshop with participants from the Beijing Dramatists Association. 100 word plays written and rehearsed during the week were showcased to an invited audience on Saturday 12 July at 9 Theatre in Chaoyang District. Please click here to read more.

The Royal Ballet China Tour 2008
The Royal Ballet returned to China this summer for the first time in nearly ten years. To coincide with the tour, the British Council delivered a series of workshops targeting teaching artists, local communities, school groups and disadvantaged groups in partnership with the Royal Ballet and the National Centre for the Performing Arts. Please click here to read more.

Bahok (2008)
Bahok is a collaboration between Akram Khan and the National of Ballet of China. It premiered in Beijing in January 2008 and in currently on tour around the world until 14 June. Please click  here to read UK media reviews of bahok and watch a video clip of the piece.