A three-year action plan for the revitalization of drama (2026-2028) has been jointly issued by five departments, including the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles. A notice has been sent to relevant provincial departments and central cultural units, requiring them to implement the plan in accordance with local conditions.
The plan is formulated to further promote the inheritance and development of theater arts in the new era. The guiding principles include adhering to the core ideologies of national development, comprehensively implementing the spirit of recent national congresses, and deeply practicing the cultural thought of the national leadership. It emphasizes a people-centered approach, upholding fundamental principles while breaking new ground, and combining the creation of quality works with the cultivation of talent.
The objectives are to continuously enhance the creative vitality of theater, significantly improve the quality of productions, and launch a number of outstanding theatrical works. It also aims to expand the talent pool, with young leading talents emerging successively. The plan seeks to establish a sound working mechanism for theatrical creation and improve the industry ecology, thereby increasing public satisfaction.
Specific measures are outlined across several key areas. The plan includes supporting theater troupes by providing policy support, deepening reforms based on their specific conditions, and aiding grassroots troupes through pairing assistance programs and initiatives like the "One Yuan Golden Seed Plan" to provide affordable scripts. It also focuses on cultivating excellent management talent for troupes.
To improve the quality of production creation, the plan encourages stimulating creative vitality, establishing creation studios within troupes, and improving script evaluation mechanisms. A full-process creation guidance mechanism will be established, and platforms for script collection and promotion will be built.
The plan aims to enhance the effectiveness of work evaluation and funding. It will refine the guiding role of awards, strengthen theatrical theory and criticism, and improve the efficiency of funding for creation and performances.
Efforts to strengthen the talent team foundation include implementing a growth plan for outstanding young theatrical talents, increasing support for local creative talent, and continuing the "Masters Teaching Plays" program to pass on skills from veteran artists. Drama education will also be enhanced.
To improve the quality and quantity of theatrical performances, the plan calls for continuing to enhance the brand influence of exhibitions and festivals and promoting high-quality theatrical resources directly to grassroots levels through various channels.
For the protection and inheritance of theater, measures include establishing a repository of classic repertoire, rescuing and preserving precious historical materials, and implementing a protection plan for various opera genres.
The plan also focuses on strengthening the promotion and exchange of theater. This involves expanding dissemination methods through traditional and new media, cultivating young audiences, and strengthening international exchanges and promotion to tell Chinese stories well.
Departments such as publicity, education, finance, culture, tourism, and literary federations at all levels are required to fully recognize the importance of theater revitalization. They must strengthen communication and coordination, strive for policy support, incorporate the work into overall economic and social development plans, and formulate specific measures according to their responsibilities to ensure effective implementation.