Incubation Project

Deadline 2025.05.09 22:00 (GMT + 8) Now Open for Registration

Unlike many other arts festivals that primarily feature invited performances, the Shekou Theatre Festival is centered around original creation. The decision to take such a challenging path was made in response to the disruption of international arts and culture exchanges by the pandemic in 2022. During the planning meetings, Crystal, one member of the jury, proposed, "When the borders reopen, what can we offer to the world?" To answer this question, the Shekou Theatre Festival boldly shifted its focus to young creators, initiating the Incubation Projects, assembling a jury, establishing selection criteria, and providing resources and platforms. Starting from the submission of project proposals by creators, the works undergo a process of selection, nurturing, mentoring, and companionship, resulting in unique and distinctive creations. These works are presented to the public during the Shekou Theatre Festival, where they are further refined through interactions with the audience, evolving into more complete productions. Each year, the festival also invites scholars, experts, media commentators, and program curators from both domestic and international spheres to participate, providing a platform for young creators to be visible and connected with the world. But the Incubation Projects don't end there. We aspire for the works cultivated at the Shekou Theatre Festival to transcend even further. Beginning in 2024, the festival will invite previously incubated works to return with an "enhanced version" as part of the "Homecoming" programme. With continued nurturing, we anticipate these incubated productions will evolve into a formidable artistic force.

Incubation Programs

Theater in Situ

Theater in Situ

Learn more

What is "Theatre in Situ"? The Shekou Theatre Festival defines it as performance content tailored to non-traditional theatrical spaces. When performances extend beyond the confines of the stage and audiences are no longer confined to designated seatingareas, the dynamics of spectatorship change, and public engagement evolves. "Theatre in Situ" is far more than merely relocating traditional stage productions to non-theatrical spaces. Instead, creators must contemplate the spirit of these new venues, explorenovel spectator-performer relationships and modes of performance, and reinvigorate the public's involvement in the arts. This presents a challenge to creators to harness the energy of audience participation.

New Writing

New Writing

Learn more

Writing should keep pace with the changes and rhythms of the times, and the emergence of New Writing brings our drama closer to contemporary life. Play writing, hidden behind the scenes, is an important art and one of the starting points of artistic creation. With the diversification of contemporary performance forms, the require mentsfor playwrights have changed. In addition to literary skills, playwrights also need to understand spatial representation, master theatricality, fulfill script requirements, and even have knowledge of game mechanics. Shekou Theatre Festival has gathered five script mentors to tailor a "Meeting through Writing" event. From writing workshops to mentor pairing, from finalizing the scripts to staged readings, every step of the play wright's journey will now be a collaborative effort instead of solitary battle.

Incubation Camp & Writing Workshop

Creative Camp

The Incubation Camps and Writing Workshops aim to immerse creators back into life, focusing on life itself and establishing genuine connections with others. Selected creators from the first round of auditions will be invited to join the Incubation Camp and Writing Workshops in Shekou. Why go to such lengths to bring young creators to Shekou? Our hope is that once they arrive in the space, they can let the space speak to them, transforming their ideas into a more comprehensive and locally integrated presentation. In the Incubation Camp and Writing Workshops, in addition to on-site inspections, exchanges with creators from various places, lectures, and sharing of experiences in the space, there are heavyweight sessions: one-on-one sessions with judges/mentors. New space judges will carefully listen to your creative proposals, pinpointing issues and presenting various challenges; while one-on-one sessions with new writing mentors involve a process of teamwork, where only mutual commitment can unleash each other's potential, creating surprising works.

Through the first round of selection, creators will be invited to Shekou to participate in the Incubation Creative Camp and Writing Workshop. Why go to great lengths to bring young creators to Shekou? Our hope is that when they arrive in the space, the space itself can speak to them, transforming their creative ideas into something more three-dimensional, more connected to local life.

In the Incubation Creative Camp and Writing Workshop, besides on-site visits in the spaces, exchanges with creators from various places, lectures and experience sharing, there is also a key component: one-on-one mentor/judge sessions. New Space judges will carefully listen to your creative proposals, point out issues and present various challenges; New Writing mentors work one-on-one through a team-building process — only through mutual dedication can the potential of both sides be unleashed, creating surprisingly wonderful works.

Creators Feedback

参加蛇口戏剧节新空间演艺孵化,让我真正体验到了"在地创作"的魅力。蛇口的街巷、码头、老建筑,都成了创作的灵感来源和舞台。最珍贵的是,这里给了我们足够的时间和空间去探索、去犯错、去发现。

《靓女·好嘢》金晓霖

在蛇口戏剧节的孵化过程中,我学会了如何让空间本身成为叙事的一部分。导师们的指导非常具有启发性,他们不会告诉你标准答案,而是帮你找到属于自己的创作语言。

《面影4.0》肖智仁

蛇口戏剧节给了我一个全新的视角来看待表演艺术。在非传统空间中创作,迫使我重新思考"观演关系"这个根本命题。这段经历彻底改变了我的创作方向。

《公共装配场|PublicAssemble》徐子钦

我一直在寻找突破传统剧场框架的机会,蛇口戏剧节正好提供了这样一个平台。这里汇聚了来自不同背景的创作者,思想的碰撞让人兴奋。

《夜行动物》李明远

作为一个年轻创作者,能获得这样一个完全支持原创的孵化机会非常难得。从概念到呈现,每一步都有专业的支持和真诚的反馈。

《边界之外》王小雨

蛇口这个地方本身就充满了故事。在这里创作,我感受到了城市记忆与当代表达之间的奇妙连接。感谢戏剧节团队的信任和支持。

《漂流记》张思源

01 / 06

Incubation Projects