Chongqing - The 6th Chongqing Youth Theater Festival lifted its curtain on Saturday night at the Chongqing Chuan Opera Theater, playing to a packed house of more than 700 attendees. Under the theme "Celebrating Our City's Spirit, Writing Chongqing's Chapter," the event serves as a key platform for young theater talents in the municipality.

The 6th Chongqing Youth Theater Festival lifted its curtain on Saturday night at the Chongqing Chuan Opera Theater, playing to a full house of more than 700 attendees. (Photo/Chongqing Federation of Literary and Art Circles)

Shen Tiemei, Chairwoman of Chongqing Federation of Literary and Art Circles and President of Chongqing Sichuan Opera Company, delivered opening remarks. Also present were representatives from the organizing and co-hosting institutions.

Shen Tiemei, Chairwoman of Chongqing Federation of Literary and Art Circles and President of Chongqing Sichuan Opera Company, delivered opening remarks. (Photo/Chongqing Federation of Literary and Art Circles)

Since its launch in 2014, the biennial festival has staged 52 full-length productions - 43 of them original - and 16 short plays and skits, including 11 original works. It has grown into an influential cultural brand that brings together professional troupes, private theater companies, and university clubs. Through performances, subsidized tickets, drama workshops, live guided introductions, and social media promotions, the festival has helped foster a vibrant local theater ecosystem.

The 6th Chongqing Youth Theater Festival lifted its curtain on Saturday night at the Chongqing Chuan Opera Theater, playing to a full house of more than 700 attendees. (Photo/Chongqing Federation of Literary and Art Circles)

This year's edition emphasizes cross-border integration, connecting contemporary art and trendy experiences with urban commerce and cultural tourism. Running through December 20, the program features 20 works spanning multiple genres such as modern drama, Chuan opera, Peking opera, and dance theater. Highlights include the new Chuan opera productions Farewell My Concubine and Moon over the Gorges, the plays Post-Human and When Darkness Falls, the Peking operas Capturing Caijiazhuang and The Eighteen Arhats Subduing the Great Roc, and the dance drama Break Free - together showcasing the diversity and creativity of Chongqing's emerging theater scene.

The 6th Chongqing Youth Theater Festival lifted its curtain on Saturday night at the Chongqing Chuan Opera Theater, playing to a full house of more than 700 attendees. (Photo/Chongqing Federation of Literary and Art Circles)

In her address, Shen Tiemei congratulated the festival on its opening and thanked all those who have supported Chongqing's theatrical arts. She highlighted the role of young artists as a driving force in creative production and encouraged them to stay grounded in real life while pursuing artistic excellence, creating works that reflect the spirit of the times and embody local character.

The 6th Chongqing Youth Theater Festival lifted its curtain on Saturday night at the Chongqing Chuan Opera Theater, playing to a full house of more than 700 attendees. (Photo/Chongqing Federation of Literary and Art Circles)

As the festival unfolds, it will bring a series of theatrical productions to audiences across the mountain city, enriching residents' cultural life and adding youthful energy to Chongqing’s development as a culturally vibrant metropolis.

The 6th Chongqing Youth Theater Festival lifted its curtain on Saturday night at the Chongqing Chuan Opera Theater, playing to a full house of more than 700 attendees. (Photo/Chongqing Federation of Literary and Art Circles)