Location: Shanghai
Suitable time: 1 Day
Shanghai Theatre Academy (STA) is a prestigious art university for performing art talents in China. It was formerly the Shanghai Municipal Experimental Theatre School, which was established on December 1st, 1945. In 1956 the school was officially renamed Shanghai Theatre Academy. In 2002, STA became a comprehensive art university with the disciplines of theatre, traditional Chinese opera, dance, film & TV, and the education spectrum covered vocational secondary school, bachelor, master and doctor programs. There are more than 500 full-time employees at Shanghai Theatre Academy, including over 300 teachers. STA has over 2100 undergraduate students in 17 majors, as well as over 900 postgraduate students on campus. There are four STA campuses with distinct functions. The Huashan Campus is the theatre arts education centre. The Lianhua Campus is the traditional Chinese opera education centre; the Hongqiao Campus is the international dance education centre; the Changlin Campus is the film, TV and new media education centre. In STA there are 10 educational units, including the Acting Department, Directing Department, Dramatic Literature Department, Stage Design Department, College of Chinese Opera, College of Dance, College of Film, College of Creative Studies, Division of Humanities and Social Sciences Education, and the College of Continuing Education. Besides, there are two vocational secondary schools affiliated to STA - the Chinese Opera School and the Dance School. STA has cultivated thousands of artists and culture managers in various professional fields for the country, and many graduates have become leading experts and professionals with national and international reputation in the fields of theatre, film & TV, dance and fine arts. They have won numerous grand awards and enjoyed high reputation and influence at home and abroad.
Step1: Opening Ceremony
Arrive at 630 Huashan Road, assemble and join the opening ceremony. Instructors introduce the purpose, process, faculty team and precautions of the study tour; a speech encourages participants to actively join and bravely explore the art of drama. (For participants travelling from other cities, the schedule can be flexibly adjusted or merged with the following activities.)
Step2: Guided Campus Sightseeing
Take a guided tour through the artistic core of the Huashan campus: Yu Qiuyu Studio → Red Building (with historical introduction and group photo) → statues behind the Red Building (Master Hong Yi, Eugene O’Neill, Molière, Goethe, Gogol) → Duan Jun Theater → Xiong Foxi Building → STA Experimental Theater → statues beside the theater (Ibsen, Goldoni, Kalidasa). Feel the strong artistic atmosphere and learn about the learning environment and daily life of professional art students.
Step3: School History Museum Fun Quiz
Visit the STA history museum. Learn the century-long development of Shanghai Theatre Academy through interactive fun quizzes and understand the university's cultural heritage and glorious achievements.
Step4: Morning Basic Training Course
Join the first basic training course (10:00–11:30). Start preliminary training of performance elements including observation, imagination and expression skills under professional instructors.
Step5: Campus Lunch & Noon Break
Enjoy student meals at the campus canteen with meal vouchers, experience the daily dining atmosphere of art students and take a rest.
Step6: Afternoon Basic Training Courses
Take part in customizable basic training courses (13:00–16:00) covering dance, acting, language, modeling, opera and other art disciplines. The curriculum can be tailored to the group's preferred emphasis. Activities include immersive workshops, studio visits and play performances, strengthening basic performance elements such as observation, imagination and expression.
Step7: Practice Performance & Closing Ceremony
Hold the after-class practice performance. Participants present what they have learned on stage, summarize the gains and achievements of the whole study tour, and receive study-tour certificates. Outstanding participants share their reflections; the activity concludes with a commemorative group photo.
Tour Highlights
