On April 20, the Lizhao Lake on Xianlin Campus, Nanjing University, became a theatrical wonderland as the grand Theatre & Culture Festival themed "When the dream begins" unfolded. Faculty of Liberal Arts immersed attendees in a dreamscape through iconic scenes from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Tang Xianzu's Peony Pavilion, while immersive roleplay and games invited participants to join the grand celebration of dramatic arts.

The entrance to the festival"

"Course of true love NEVER did run SMOOTH!" Professor Lu Wei from the School of Liberal Arts, NJU, opened the festival with a spirited reading from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. His resonant, rhythmic delivery captivated the crowd and set the stage for the fairies' arrival. Led by Oberon and Titania—King and Queen of the fairies, they glided into view, dancing, waving, and smiling beneath the dappled sunlight.

Professor Lu Wei (centre) giving a script reading

Excerpt from A Midsummer Night's Dream

Suddenly, the pipa's delicate arpeggio and the sharp clash of cymbals cut through the crowd, announcing two NJU alumnae portraying Du Liniang and her maid Chunxiang from Tang Xianzu's Peony Pavilion. Their embroidered sleeves trailed whisper-soft behind them as they advanced in measured rhythm, lifting poised fingers to guide the audience's gaze. Twelve Flower Gods—each representing one of the traditional lunar months—entered in procession to complete the tableau.

Excerpt from Peony Pavilion

Twelve Flower Gods

Two performances—one by England's preeminent playwright, the other by a Ming Dynasty dramatist—were interweaved in this dreamlike afternoon. "Because the two playwrights were contemporaries and explored parallel themes, we selected them almost at the very start of our planning," explained Han Yue, Chair of Youth League Committee of the School of Liberal Arts and one of the afternoon's Flower Gods. Although the School has organized traditional culture events for several years, this marked its first dedicated theater festival for students. "We want everyone to experience and discuss love as these plays do. It is our collective dream," Han added. When "the dream" began, the plays started, and every character sprang vividly to life.

Then the actors all stepped beyond the proscenium, still fully costumed and utterly in character, to challenge the audience with narrative puzzles. "Who is Liu Mengmei waiting for?" "Which spell turned this once-vibrant fairy into a donkey?" Spectators roamed the square, hunting not only for sticker prizes but for the deeper insights hidden in those questions.

Audience answering questions

"One feature that we are most proud of is our 'NPC characters'," Han nouted. Around the perimeter, students followed clues, quizzed the characters, and pieced together the stories themselves. "When those characters' quizzed me, it took me back to high school when discovering the layers of a play script could light up my entire day," one participant reflected, "now I definitely want to revisit those texts!"

Participants with Nick Bottom from A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Meanwhile, along the festival's outer edges, more than a dozen interactive booths invited students to add their own touches to this afternoon—from a guided tea-making activity to fragrant sachet-making workshop—filled the afternoon with laughter and animated chatter.

Ingredients at the sachet-making booth

Volunteers making perfume

Participants writing down their wishes (A life with peace and happiness)

Looking at the crowd in a distance, Han stated, "more than 100 student volunteers helped bring this dream to life." As the festival wound down, organizers hoped to spark curiosity through love-themed theatre and offer a brief escape from their daily routines. Judging by the bright faces and lively conversations, they clearly succeeded.

Actors and audience dancing together

Nanjing University has long fostered theatrical pursuits through professional courses, student associations, and regular workshops, providing stages where participants can free their body, hone their skills, share their ideas, and find their audience. It is one dream after another that builds this vibrant theatre community, and each time "a dream begins," it is welcomed, nurtured, and celebrated.

Writer: Li Jing

Editor: Ma Chunyu