The 1st International Theater Festival of the Global Alliance of Theater Schools was unveiled in Beijing over the past 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, South 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 of 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 (US$439.43) prize, Xu said.

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

(CRI September 21, 2009)