ABOUT
​US
Founded in 2016 by Li Qianpeng, an esteemed performance educator, theatre scholar, and international arts curator, is a premier independent arts institution headquartered in Shanghai with a European branch established in Spain in 2020. As the only Chinese organization dedicated exclusively to curating, producing, staging, and fostering high-quality international theatre and educational content, VertebrART is at the forefront of contemporary theatre innovation.
In China, VertebrART has built a reputation for its professional research, global perspective, and distinctive high-quality productions. It continues to attract an audience of well-educated, growth-oriented individuals, cementing its position as a significant force in modern theatre. Its acclaimed international collaborations, including The Open Couple, Poison, Lungs, Flight Me Now, The Flood, Bartleby the Scrivener, The Little Pony, Papa's Bed, and MOMO, have partnered leading Chinese actors with artists from over a dozen countries, earning numerous awards in the Chinese theatre community.
In Europe, VertebrART launched the "is Theatre International Festival" (iTIF), a cross-cultural theatre arts festival exploring the boundaries of theatrical creativity. In 2023, it partnered with the historic Teatro Español in Madrid, established in 1583, to co-produce its first Spanish-language contemporary flamenco play, Silence in the Blood Wedding. The production debuted to critical acclaim, with its global premiere in Shanghai and its European premiere in Madrid, garnering widespread attention and success.
Beyond productions, VertebrART has played a pivotal role in international cultural exchange, bringing the world’s most representative artistic, academic, and commercial theatre projects to major cities and international festivals across China. These initiatives have expanded audiences' horizons, fostered cultural dialogue, and elevated aesthetic appreciation.
In arts education, VertebrART offers systemic and transformative programs for diverse groups, inviting world-class performance instructors, renowned directors, and artists to lead lectures, workshops, and training courses. These initiatives unlock artistic potential, deepen self-awareness, and inspire personal growth.
VertebrART is dedicated to bridging cultures, fostering creativity, and setting new benchmarks in arts, theatre and education.​
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