The first-ever international festival of theater education China has hosted ended in Beijing on Thursday.

Some educational agreements were achieved at six seminars and 25 drama workshops during the fair, such as the Konstantin Stanislavski system, which stresses life-like stage scenes and that life is the source of art, said Liu Libin, vice president of the Central Academy of Drama (CAD) in China, one of the two sponsors.

"As the same time, the school's education should receive, adapt to and absorb various styles and genres, demanded by the times," Liu said.

Sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Education and the CAD, the event attracted 20 drama colleges from China, Russia, Britain, The US, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, India and Singapore, said CAD President Xu Xiang.

During the seven-day fair, students from 10 countries acted in 54 performances of 16 plays.

The National School of Drama of India brought three dramas -- Khul Ja Sim Sim, Budhi Kaki and Deewar, all without Chinese subtitles, which worried director Vibha Chhibber, who has worked for the school for 15 years.

"The Chinese audience responded well. I'm very happy that they understand them," she said.

She said the fair made the Chinese audiences better know social life and drama education in India, and was important for cultural and art exchanges and learning.

A Dream Play, by students of The City University of New York on Tuesday night had to be turned into a dress rehearsal for lack of time to assemble the stage lights.

However, director Bill Walters commended the event. "It's very valuable to bring the artists in China and around the world together to the festival, so we can share the information," he said, adding he saw fresh perspectives and cultures from other countries of various styles of performances.

In addition, he showed surprise about Chinese drama education, saying that Chinese students are smart and professional as they are able to get his meaning quickly at his drama workshop.

Tepliakov Valentin, who directed the famous Russian The Dawns Here Are Quite in the festival, valued the opportunity much as well.

"I'm sorry the theater exchanges between Russia and China ceased for many years because of political factors, but now they are growing and growing, which relates us in a friendly manner," said Valentin, a teacher with The Russian Academy of Theatre Arts.

"All the activities in the festival let our counterparts from other countries know Chinese art education and provide a platform for Chinese drama institutes to learn the concepts and methods of drama education of other countries," Liu Libin said.

(Xinhua News Agency October 28, 2005)