Surreal Dreams to Reimagined Classics: 9 Acts at Theatre YOUNG

Catch "Bells and Spells," a magical visual spectacle from France's Chaplin family. Directed by Victoria Thierrée Chaplin (Charlie Chaplin's daughter) and starring her daughter Aurélia, this wordless show blends mime, dance, illusion, and surreal comedy into a captivating 70-minute dream. It's part of the Autumn International Theatre Season and a highlight of the Shanghai International Art Festival.

Catch the acclaimed documentary theatre piece "The Making of Berlin" from Belgium's BERLIN collective. It blends live performance, film, and a fascinating story about a WWII-era stage manager from the Berlin Philharmonic, questioning memory and truth. It's a clever, multi-layered show that's earned international praise.

This isn’t your usual night at the theater. “A Surrealist Conference” takes audiences into a dreamlike world where puppets whisper, shadows drift, and ghosts slip across the stage. Created by Nancy Rusek, Eric de Sarria, Geng Yun, and Gu Jingsheng, the 50-minute visual theater piece blurs the line between reality and illusion with movement, objects, and light instead of dialogue. Think of it as stepping into a living dream.

Berlin’s legendary Schaubühne Theatre brings Michael Kohlhaas to Shanghai, a gripping modern adaptation of Heinrich von Kleist’s classic tale of justice and revenge. Directed by Simon McBurney (Complicité co-founder) and Annabel Arden, the production blends live projections and smartphone streaming to question morality in an unjust world. Starring Renato Schuch, it’s a tense, visually striking drama that’s earned global acclaim.

Japan’s media art giant Shiro Takatani brings Tangent to Shanghai for the first time, teaming up with avant-garde collective Dumb Type and the final album of Ryuichi Sakamoto. Expect a spellbinding mix of light, sound, and technology that turns the stage into a meditative space somewhere between reality and the surreal.

My Homeland is an experimental play about identity and belonging, told through the story of Gena, a Belarusian plumber with a passion for straw weaving.

From Minsk comes Evening, a Belarusian stage classic reimagined by the Republican Theater of Belarusian Dramaturgy. A quiet meditation on time, solitude, and belonging, this minimalist production blends village life, folk songs, and symbolic stagecraft into a moving theatrical experience with Chinese and English surtitles.

The Schaubühne Berlin’s Richard III is a fierce, modern take on Shakespeare’s ruthless king, with Lars Eidinger giving one of the most intense performances in decades. Expect sharp, minimalist staging, direct German prose, and a raw look at power, ambition, and political chaos — no frills, just pure drama.

This stage play brings Tang Dynasty Chang’an to life with killer rock vibes, cool lighting, and epic dance moves. Picture a modern Shangyuan Festival party mixed with ancient city drama—lanterns, battles, and heartfelt moments all packed into one unforgettable night. If you’re into history with a fresh twist and some serious stage energy, this one’s a must-see.