
About Us
Shekou Theatre Festival marks a bold venture by China Merchants Culture Industry | Performing Arts Connection.
Firstly, it tackles challenges head-on. In 2022, amidst the difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the performing arts industry faced increasing limitations within the traditional theatre spaces, with closures and performance cancellations becoming recurring struggles. Despite this, the hunger for artistic expression among creators persisted, mirroring the audience’s growing demand for cultural enrichment. To chart a new course, China Merchants Culture Industry | Performing Arts Connection boldly merged theatrical creation with non-traditional performance spaces under the banner of “Theatre in Situ,” making it the focal point of the Shekou Theatre Festival’s exploration.
Secondly, it champions originality. Diverging from festivals primarily centered around invited performances, the Shekou Theatre Festival distinguishes itself by placing “original creation” at its core. From selecting creators’ proposals to nurturing, mentoring, and finally presenting their unique works to the public during the festival. The festival also incorporates audience feedback into the production process of each work, which is an indispensable aspect of refining the work into a complete and mature piece.
Thirdly, the festival fosters a platform for exchange. Performing art is never a solo endeavor. It requires the collaboration of various professionals to transform conceptual ideas into stage performances. Shekou Theatre Festival not only serves as a hub for theater practitioners but also attracts domestic and international organisations, scholars, commentators, curators, community resources, and others. It facilitates collision and growth through exchanges, sharing, and mutual learning. With collaborative efforts, the festival aims to enhance the performing arts ecosystem and propel creators to new heights.
Shekou Theatre Festival can be divided into two major phases: work incubation and performance presentation. The public calls for proposals begin in April, followed by creative workshops in June, the incubation period in July, and culminates in performances in November, spanning eight months in total. Shekou Theatre Festival has incubated 42 Theatre in Situ projects and 30 original playscripts, alongside hosting 544 performances in the last three editions since 2022. Additionally, it has selected 10 papers on Theatre in Situ and published a special issue of G.D. ART. The festival has successfully established a platform for performing arts incubation, supporting numerous talented young creators and gathering an audience primarily consisting of young people. Not only does the Shekou Theatre Festival showcase artistic innovation and vitality within the city, but it also received mass attention on social media.
Experiencing the incubated works at the festival is like unwrapping an artistic mystery box. Audience members can never see what productions look like until the stage lights. Shekou Theatre Festival will always values the incubation process, prioritizing the growth of young creators and fostering dialogue between creators and audiences. Despite Shenzhen’s reputation as a ‘cultural desert,’ China Merchants Culture Industry | Performing Arts Connection aims to nurture Shenzhen’s cultural landscape by providing platforms for young creators, reminiscent of Shekou’s experimental role in the city’s past. Today, China Merchants Culture Industry | Performing Arts Connection injects elements of theatrical experimentation into this land of Reform and Opening Up, eagerly anticipating the fruits it may yield.
China Merchants Shekou CMSK
China Merchants Shekou Industrial Zone Holdings Co., Ltd (CMSK), a flagship subsidiary under the China Merchants Group, is dedicated to comprehensive urban development. It is also the Group’s asset integration platform for real estate and important business collaboration in China. Committed to be “the better life carrier”, CMSK develops comprehensive solutions for urban development and industrial upgrading and also provides diversified products and services covering full life cycle.
China Merchants Culture Industry
China Merchants Culture Industry is a cultural organisation under China Merchants Shekou Industrial Zone Holdings dedicated to empowering the comprehensive development of the company. Positioned as a professional force in cultural content and venue operations, China Merchants Culture Industry main business includes the operation of cultural complexes, development and operation of exhibitions and performing arts intellectual properties, operation of sports venues and events, international and public education, media digitisation operations, and the expansion of innovative cultural industry.
Performing Arts Connection
China Merchants Culture Industry | Performing Arts Connection is guided by the vision of “integrating art into life,” building an innovative cultural ecosystem. Our flagship project, Mountain View Theater, is situated in Shekou, Shenzhen. As one of China’s premier chamber music venues, it combines exceptional acoustics with thoughtful programming. It has hosted leading artists from across the globe while also serving as a key platform for emerging talent. With its immersive sound and intimate setting, Mountain View Theater delivers deeply moving and professional live experiences.
We also proudly organize the Shekou Theatre Festival, which has become a signature contemporary theatre event in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Focused on new works and diverse forms of expression, the festival encourages cross-disciplinary collaboration and brings together local and international artists. By transforming Shekou’s public spaces into dynamic stages, it creates a city-wide atmosphere of artistic participation and dialogue.
Together, these initiatives drive Performing Arts Connection’s mission: to build an integrated platform connecting artistic creation, venue management, festival programming, and community engagement. We are committed to advancing the contemporary performing arts scene and enriching urban life through culture.




Venues
Downloads

Sea World--Public Square

Sea World--Public Square

Nanhai E-cool -- Building 7 -- Terrace

Nanhai E-cool -- Building 5 -- Terrace

Sea World · Circular Plaza

Prince Bay Area--Shenzhen Bay Marina Club (SMC)Tree-lined Path

Prince Bay Garden City Villa--Block

The sea ahead · K11 HACC

Prince Bay Area--Shanhai Primary School Footbridge

Prince Bay Area--Weibo Mountain Tunne

Prince Bay Area-- Shekou Cruise Homeport: Time Gallery

Prince Bay Area-- Prince Bay Promenade

Nanhai E-cool-Public Space

Weizai Community -- Weizai Mountain Rule of Law Park

Gateway 1—Sunken Plaza

Prince Bay Garden City Villa--Corridor of Building 7

Prince Bay Garden City Villa--L4 Rooftop of Building 8 (Next to CUICUI Artwork)

Prince Bay Area--K11 North Hall L3 Public Exhibition Hall

Prince Bay Area--K11 North Hall L1 Cross-border Bus Parking Lot Channel

K11 South Block--RF Pearl of the Sea

K11 – L3 Connection Between North & South Blocks

K11 – L4 Seaview Running Track

K11 HACC – Line 12 Passageway

Gateway 2--Gate 2 entrance plaza

Gateway 2—Kids' Play Area

Gateway 1&2—Space Corridor

Prince Bay Garden City Villa-- Pole Star Square

Prince Bay Garden City Villa-- Twilight bridge

Prince Bay Garden City Villa-- Tidal square

K11 HACC L3 White Cube

E-Cool Space

K11 HACC L1 Flash space

L4 Flash space

Prince Bay Area--K11 North Hall L4 Fantasy Park

NewPark Cafe

Panpan Coffee

RANY Hotel

Jiabuting Restaurant

Soloist

Prince Bay Garden City Villa--Sip Up

Prince Bay Garden City Villa--Chun ZaiTang

TULIP LODJ Residence(1)

TULI PLODJ Residence(2)

co-matters Studio

Here Space
Contacts
Address
Sea World Culture and Arts Center, 1187 Wanghai Road, Shekou, Nanshan, Shenzhen, China
Email
cmskpac@cmhk.com
Phone
+8618025362723
Available Time
Monday to Friday 9:00-18:00
Social Media
WeChat Official Account: cmskpac
WeChat mini-program: 蛇口戏剧节
Xiaohongshu: 蛇口戏剧节
IG:shekou_theatrefestival
