Applications are now open for the 2026 Wuzhen Arts Studio, marking the launch of a new cross-year training initiative under the theme "Wuzhen Arts Studio: Thomas Richards / Theatre No Theatre — Actor's Craft and Creation Project".
As part of Wuzhen's long-term commitment to cultural development, theater education remains central to nurturing a vibrant theatrical ecosystem and connecting creators with audiences. The 2026 program continues this mission with an advanced professional training platform led by Thomas Richards, artistic heir of theater master Jerzy Grotowski, together with members of the Theatre No Theatre ensemble.
Designed as a multiyear development project, the program is grounded in a rigorous and precise working process. Through advanced actor training and systematic creative guidance, participants will engage in disciplined technical refinement and deep personal exploration, with the aim of producing original works of professional caliber and precision.
Grotowski, widely regarded as one of the most influential theater practitioners and theorists of the 20th century, maintained that the actor's craft lies at the heart of theatrical art. Beginning in 1985, Richards worked closely as Grotowski's assistant, becoming a key inheritor of the research and practice known as "Art as Vehicle". From 1999 to 2022, Richards served as artistic director of the Workcenter of Jerzy Grotowski and Thomas Richards, directing major productions including Action, The Living Room and The Underground, which toured in more than 30 countries.
This year's program will be divided into two semesters. The Spring Semester (April 13 to May 17) will span five weeks. Thirty participants will be admitted and divided into two groups, with applicants free to choose either session. The Autumn Semester (Sept 28 to Oct 11) will serve as an advanced stage. Fifteen participants will be selected from the spring cohort to return to Wuzhen for intensive rehearsals and further creative development.
Selected works will be presented in public rehearsals during the program, culminating in a closing ceremony to mark the completion of the first academic year.
At the core of the curriculum is the practice of traditional songs, incorporating methodologies that explore vibrant physical and vocal action, performance creation, and dramaturgy. While emphasizing individual creative inquiry and professional skill refinement, the program seeks to foster the creation and development of original performance material.
