The Door to Theater

After entering university, I developed a new hobby: watching plays. I used to think theater was a dying art form, especially in the age of movies and short-form videos. How could people—who watch two-minute videos at double speed or rely on three-minute movie summaries—possibly sit still for two hours in a theater, without checking their phones, to watch a full-length play?

I had visited theaters a few times as a child, but it wasn’t until I attended a free performance at Zhejiang University that I truly fell in love with theater. The Department of Public Physical and Art Education offered free tickets to a production of Agatha Christie’s suspenseful play A Murder Is Announced, and I was lucky enough to get one. Sitting in an excellent seat thanks to the university’s generosity, I felt the magnetic pull of the stage. As the lights dimmed and the curtain rose, the next two hours felt like a dream—one where I stepped into someone else’s world, experiencing their emotions and stories as if they were my own.

That performance of A Murder Is Announced was what truly sparked my love for theater. Fortunately, Zhejiang University offers a wealth of cultural and artistic opportunities, and I was able to attend many more performances with free tickets provided by the school. In March, the renowned play Thunderstorm was staged at the university theater. Stepping away from my textbooks, I finally understood why this classic has remained timeless. In May, the production Meng Xiaodong introduced me to the legendary life of the opera diva, deepening my appreciation for her story and legacy. Then in June, the student theater group performed plays like Murder on the Orient Express and The Seagull, showing me that theater isn’t reserved for professionals—it’s something even ordinary students like me can be part of and deeply moved by.

The university also offers drama classes, which have opened the door to the world of art for us. In these classes, students are divided into groups and, through dedicated effort, we refine scripts, develop our acting skills, and ultimately present a fully staged play as the final project.

Overall, I’m truly grateful to Zhejiang University for giving me the opportunity to explore the world of theater. I look forward to experiencing many more inspiring performances in the future.