If you've come to know me as the passionate news reporter for Middle Kingdom Creatives (MKC), dear reader, then I'm perfectly happy with that! Who wouldn’t want to stay informed about the antics of Beijing's cherished English-speaking theater community? They certainly never remain silent for long. Let me introduce you to the latest creation from Laurel Burns and her team: Beijing Blitz. And no, they won't be dropping any bombs on you, but you can anticipate some truly delightful times.
As always, don't just rely on my words – you know I love a good interview. I'll provide you with the essential details: on September 27 at Jinshang Garden Theater (Beijing truly does shine in the fall). Now, join me for the inside scoop from Laurel!
Hi, Laurel! It looks like you and your team are at it again, and we definitely won't complain! Beijing Blitz... sounds intriguing. If I'm not mistaken, the project is divided into two phases. What practical information can you provide right away so we can move on to other queries? I'll give you the details! Beijing Blitz will be a ten-minute play festival, and we invite all theater enthusiasts from across China to participate! We're currently in Phase 1, where we want you to submit your original, unproduced play. The deadline is August 24, with an RMB 100 submission fee. We're welcoming all styles, genres, and languages, and you'll hear about the selected plays by September 1. That's when Phase 2 starts, and you'll need to assemble your team and prepare for the stage.
Wow, this really seems like your most ambitious project yet! All languages are welcome? How will that work? And since anyone from anywhere in China can submit, what practical aspects should they consider? We're a bit anxious to see if people take up our language invitation! We've put together a panel of "readers" whose sole task is to evaluate the scripts and score them based on a specific rubric we've established. Currently, our panel consists only of English speakers, but we are open to seeking readers worldwide to accommodate all the languages of our contributors!
We are accepting scripts from everywhere, but writers who submit should realize that if their script is selected, we hope they will participate in Phase 2 by helping oversee the production of their work.
I assume there are some guidelines to follow... Yes, we hope they’re easy to follow. Playwrights must be members of our festival's WeChat group to participate. You can scan the QR code we’ll include in this blog post or contact me directly if you want to join (WeChat ID: laurelpalooza). The twelve plays featured will be chosen by a Reading Panel appointed by the Festival Committee, and we expect them to be original works by the playwrights themselves. No plagiarism, please!
Scripts should be no longer than ten pages (excluding the title page and character lists), and playwrights should use Times New Roman, 12-point font, with standard spacing and margins. There’s more to it, but I won’t overwhelm you; join us in the group for the full document!
Great, thanks for explaining. I assume all levels of experience are welcome! Absolutely! As always, we invite everyone from seasoned professionals to those merely curious about the stage.
One concern arises. What if I’m a bit shy, or perhaps new in town? Suppose my script gets accepted, but I have no team and am unfamiliar with how to navigate Beijing. What should I do? Don’t worry. If you get selected and need help with anything team-related—finding a director, cast, or even a rehearsal space—just reach out, and MKC will be more than happy to assist. After all, we have some experience in this area. Consider it our contribution to this collaborative project that we hope will be truly memorable; just focus on preparing for the Blitz!
That's the spirit! And regarding the non-refundable submission fee... There’s a reason for it: Every RMB helps cover production costs, venue rental, and other festival necessities. We’ve worked hard to keep the submission fee reasonable so that financial concerns won’t exclude anyone. I can't emphasize enough how grateful we are to the community for your ongoing support. It’s a major factor driving our continuous efforts to achieve new milestones and projects. From the beginning, MKC wouldn’t be where it is today without our audience, actors, creatives, and volunteers. It’s something we truly appreciate.
That’s touching. So, what inspired this initiative? We owe this idea to David, our exceptional stage manager from the past few shows. He suggested this sort of blend between a competition and a festival, drawing on his own experiences in South Korea. He has wonderful memories of how impactful such an experience was for that community, so we thought it was time to bring it to Beijing too!
The recent Inkwell 24 Hour Theatre Festival in Shanghai was also quite pivotal. That was last March, and
Our local theater group is stirring things up onstage for the upcoming fall.
