Theatre in the Mountains: Gaochun Hosts Its First Cittaslow Drama Therapy Festival
From 15 to 18 October 2026, Gaochun Cittaslow in Nanjing, China, hosted the first Cittaslow Drama Therapy Festival at the Pinellow Yunju Resort Hotel. Bringing together theatre, creative participation and rural cultural tourism, the event invited residents and visitors to explore emotional expression and human connection in a natural setting.
The main programme on 17 October included workshops in physical theatre, vocal soundscapes, Playback Theatre, improvisational comedy and creative drama for parents and children. Through movement, storytelling and shared activities, participants were encouraged to express themselves and listen to others, without needing previous theatre experience.
Families took part in “Grandma’s Toy Shop”, a workshop centred on play and collaborative creation. A courtyard poetry reading provided another space for reflection, using poetry to encourage listening and the sharing of personal experiences.
Across the resort, six interactive installations offered visitors a self-guided route exploring emotions and creativity. Open without advance booking, the installations included the Empty Chair Stone Beach, the Heart Voice Factory, the Studio of Self, the Mirror Plaza, the Emotional Path and the River of Inspiration. Participants followed a “Body and Mind Roaming Map”, collecting stamps along the way and taking part in activities such as writing down worries for a symbolic “Bad Mood Shredder”.
The programme also connected public participation with professional discussion. An evening forum brought together Chinese and international psychodrama practitioners to examine applications in education and therapeutic settings. The Congsheng Theatre Company performed its absurdist comedy “42”, while the SuperM Salon gathered government and business representatives, rural hosts and young theatre artists to discuss opportunities for young people to return to the countryside and contribute to local cultural life.
By taking theatre into courtyards, gardens and shared spaces, the festival explored how cultural activities can become part of the slow living experience. Its focus on participation, relationships and the rural environment reflects Cittaslow’s attention to community and quality of life.
Gaochun plans to build on this experience through further initiatives involving art, young people and local hosts, developing rural tourism experiences that give visitors time to connect with nature and the community.
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