The 1st International Theatre Festival of the Global Alliance of Theatre Schools was unveiled in Beijing this weekend to feature William Shakespeare's masterpieces presented by nine drama colleges from eight countries.

The drama schools from Bulgaria, Australia, India, Mexico, Germany, Ukraine, Republic of Korea and China will each stage a Shakespearean piece and another one of their own choice in the 11-day event, said Xu Xiang, president of China's Central Academy of Drama, also chairman the alliance.

The festival will give two performance awards. The awarded foreign student will be given an opportunity to study for a semester in China's Central Academy of Drama, and the awarded Chinese student will have 3,000 yuan prize, Xu said.

The Global Alliance of Theatre Schools was created at the initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The International Theatre Festival will be held every two years.

(Xinhua News Agency September 20, 2009)