The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain is delighted to be in Beijing on its first visit to China. The company will be presenting an abridged version of Shakespeare’s tale of love and revenge, The Merchant of Venice, at the China International Youth Arts Festival as part of ‘Meet in Beijing 2008’ and the Beijing Cultural Olympiad.  The production unites the talents of 25 young British actors with 10 young Chinese actors, who are spending a week working together. Performances (in English with Chinese subtitles) will take place in the Theatre Hall at the National Centre for the Performing Arts on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 July at 19.30. Tickets are available through the telephone hotline of the National Centre for the Performing Arts at 010 66550000

The National Youth Theatre is the only British company to be invited to take part in the Festival and the first British theatre company to perform at the NCPA. www.nyt.org.uk

At the same time, 100 Words returns to Beijing on 7 July to run a week long workshop with participants from Beijing Dramatists Association. The workshop aims to provide 14 young writers and actors with different creative approaches to their work, encourage the sharing of dramatic techniques and promote creativity among young people. 100 word plays written and rehearsed during the week will be showcased to an invited audience on Saturday 12 July at 9 Theatre in Chaoyang District.  

www.100wordplay.com

1. Summary

Carrying the legacy of Olympic Games from Beijing 2008 to London 2012, 100 Words invites young people from both China and Britain to create a script using no more than 100 words or Chinese characters. 100 Words aims to capture the essence of a language and culture in thousands of short plays, films or operas. It encourages interaction and collaboration across cultures and promotes the creative industries in China. In 2008, 100 Words will focus on creating and implementing artist development and language learning programmes in China and the UK: This targets aspiring young writers aged between 18 and 35 years old who want to write professionally for the stage or screen. This aims to bring a creative dimension to formal language learning and targets young people learning Mandarin in the UK and those learning English in China.

2. Core Values

Youth
100 Words is for young people.  It draws its energy from young people’s spontaneity and curiosity, providing opportunities for them to create, show, share and gain a greater understanding of the world around them.

Creativity
100 Words is inspired by creativity and the possibilities released by expressing ideas using only 100 words of any language.  It provides opportunities for young artists to create new work, and introduces creativity into formal language learning.

Connectivity
100 Words connects people and places through the showing and sharing of 100 words works.  The development of an online presence for the project generates a sense of community. Technology is used to enhance and extend connectivity across platforms.

Innovation
100 Words is committed to innovation in form, content and distribution. It aspires to be an exemplar cross cultural project that breaks new ground in terms of its ambition and reach.

Inclusivity
100 Words values diversity and strives to be fully inclusive in all of its work. The project promotes and values participation from young people of all abilities, and celebrates cultural similarity and difference.

Legacy
100 Words is underpinned by a commitment to longevity and legacy. It provides young people with an immediate experience and sense of achievement, and with ongoing opportunities to continue their dialogue, learning and exploration. Through the careful development of strategic partnerships and alliances, the longevity of 100 Words will be assured as it becomes embedded in the ongoing work of organizations.

3. Background

Beijing Municipal Government’s directive to taxi drivers and other people working in the service industries to ‘learn 100 sentences for daily use in a foreign language’ in preparation for Beijing 2008 was the original inspiration for 100 Words. 100 Words has been created by One Hundred Words Inc, which was set up in 2005 by Natasha Betteridge and Rachel Parslew to create projects and interventions that connect people in China and the UK, using theatre, film and digital technology as platforms for communication between the different cultures.

4. Project Leaders:

Natasha Betteridge (UK) is Creative Director for 100 Words. She has 12 years directing experience in theatre and film, specializing in new writing.

Rachel Parslew (UK) is Creative Producer for 100 Words.  She has particular experience of strategic planning, producing cross cultural projects and fundraising, having worked in the cultural sector for 20 years.

Paul Roseby (UK) is Art Director of National Youth Theater.

Yang Lei (CN) is Art Director and Producer of NOTCH Festival.

Supported by:
British Council, Arts Council England and LOCOG.

Beijing Dramatists Association, Sohu.com, BAMC, National Center Performing Arts, Beijing Film Academy, Central Academy of Drama, Shanghai Academy of Drame, BOCOG.

5. Schedule

6. Send inquiry email to:
takethen@yahoo.com.cn

7. Related links:
www.100wordplay.com
www.nyt.org.uk
www.sohotheatre.com
http://www.neocha.com/eeditor/blog!3001.html

About online competition:

National Youth Theatre and 100 Words Inc want to create a global cultural exchange between young people in the UK and China. We’re giving you a challenge of writing a play which will appeal to an international audience, using just 100 words to tell a story about your world which expresses what it means to be a young person in China today.

1.Email your script to e100words@sohu.com. The deadline is March 14, 2008.
2.The competition is open to anyone aged 13 – 35.
3.Requirements:
A strong, imaginative story which:

• demonstrates creativity and originality
• tackles the theme 'My World' and expresses what it means to be a young person in China
• speaks to an international audience

A carefully constructed script that:

• creates a compelling play with just 100 words of dialogue
• translates well on stage and that can be adapted into a short film
• considers the audience
• considers the performers and the director

You can include stage directions in your script which will not count towards the 100 word total.

Repeated words in the script dialogue do count towards the 100 word total.

Keep your total entry down to 1000 words maximum.

All entries must be typed and Include a short paragraph with your entry, summarizing your story and telling us what inspired you.

4.Selection, post-production and performance:

• These winning entries will then be produced into 100 word plays to be staged as part of the China International Youth Week in Beijing in July 2008.
• One overall winning entry will be then picked to be made into a short film to be shown to audience in Beijing and London as part of the National Youth Theatre’s ‘East to East’ event to be held on Wednesday April 30th 2008.

5. Judging Panel:
Natasha Betteridge     Creative Director of 100 Words
Yang Qianwu              Beijing Dramatists Association
Zhao Li                     Arts Manager of British Council Beijing
Qin Liwen        Senior Editor of SOHU.com
Yang Lei        Art Director of NOTCH Festival

The event will be a fun celebration of both cultures and their common Olympic Status and will highlight the brilliant young talent across the globe!