The organizer, Shanghai Drama Arts Center, presents three classic plays - the French thriller "8 Femmes," the Chinese version of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "Faust."

Next Sunday, the center will launch a workshop titled "One Day, the World." Ten drama groups will stage 12 plays continuously over 12 hours, each with a small audience of around 200.

ACT 08

Date: through December 7, 7:30pm

Venue: Shanghai Drama Arts Theater, 288 Anfu Rd

Tel: 6473-0123, 6473-4567

Check www.fringeshanghai.com for program details

On the fringe

Fringe Shanghai" presents outreach workshops, talks and visual arts events through December 7. All free programs try to bring artists closer to the community and encourage the public to participate in the arts.

Started in 2006, "Fringe Shanghai" gives emerging artists an opportunity to show cutting-edge, experimental and visionary works that need not be commercially viable.

This year features more outreach programs such as "Fringe on Campus." It's a long-term educational project tailor-made for young people in the city to promote their interest in the arts.

From December 12 to 20, All Theater from Hong Kong will perform an hour of mask theater at the Songjiang University Town and Yangpu University Town, plus some high schools and international schools.

Programs include an Artwalk through non-mainstream art venues such as Image Tunnel, Fei Contemporary Art Center and Cinema of Truth. There's an art jam for children and a pottery workshop in which everyone must wear a blindfold.

(Shanghai Daily November 21, 2008)