China, US launch new media drama project

The "International Writing Program," initiated by the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center and the University of Iowa in the U.S, aims at bringing plays by young Chinese and American writers to the stage, and to internet viewers worldwide.

This is one performance that's not limited by a traditional stage. Here, the actors work in close proximity to the audience -- and it's a packed house.

But they aren't the only crowd watching this show. The performance is also being broadcast on the web, using the latest videoconferencing technology.

Yu Rongjun, deputy general manager of Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center, said, "This performance is very meaningful, especially in China. It allows the audience to get closer to the actors. And the videoconferencing technology enables more people to see it. What's more, the program helps us discover young talented playwrights, which is very important for China's drama scene."

The International Writing Program is a three-year collaborative exchange and performance initiative. It is designed to bring together writers, actors, directors and new-media professionals.

In the long term, it aims to become a model for how to use new media as a way to increase artistic collaboration internationally.

The program was launched by the University of Iowa in 1967. Since then, more than 14-hundred writers from more than 140 countries have participated, including renowned Chinese writers Xiao Qian and Wang Anyi.