A gala is awaiting the theatre-goers of Beijing, at the turn of the new year. From Dec. 25, a total of 18 new productions from all over China will show their latest theatrical achievements at the occasion of 90th Anniversary Celebration of Chinese Spoken Drama.

Co-sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Federation of Literary and Arts Circles, the festival aims at promoting the creation of new plays. The opening ceremony will be held on Dec. 29, which will be followed by a 4-day symposium on theatre policy and education. Almost all of the celebrities and scholars, including An Kui, Xu Xiaozhong, Li Moran, etc, are attending the event. During the celebration, awards will be given to more than 700 veteran artists working over 50 years in the field of spoken drama.

The following is a list of the 18 productions:

1. Striving Current of the Sea, by Fujian People's Art Theatre, 9:00pm Dec.25&26 at Beijing Worker's Club.

2. All Beijingers, by China Youth Art Theatre,7:00pm Dec.26 at Auditorium of the Ministry of Spaceflight. 3. No Exit, by Central Experimental Theatre, 7:00pm Dec.25-29, Blackbox Theatre of Central Experimental Theatre.

4. Platform of Song Emperor, by Soldiers' Theatre of Guangzhou Military Area, 7:00pm Dec.28,29, at Aug. 1st Theatre.

5. Crouching Tiger on the Bell Mountain, by Front Line Theatre of Najing Military Area, Dec.29,30, 7:00pm at Auditorium of Central Guard Bureau

6. Uncle Cricket, by Tianjin People's Art Theatre, 7:00pm Dec.31&Jan.1, at Beijing Worker's Club.

7. Men's Tears, by Guangzhou Municipal Theatre, 7:00pm Dec.31& Jan.1, at People's Theatre

8. Veteran, by Front Line Theatre of Jinan Military Area, 7:00pm Jan.2, 3, at Auditorium of Hotel Jingxi.

9. Reverence, by Shanghai People's Art Theatre, 7:00pm Jan.4, 5, at Children's Theatre.

0. Love Sacrifice of Village Luobo by Theatre of Xijiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 7:00pm Jan.4, 5, at People's Theatre.

. Torrent of the Big River, by Nanjing Theatre, 7:00pm Jan.5, 6, at Beijing Theatre.

2. Cannon's Shock , by Front Line Theatre of ShenYang Military Area, 7:00pm Jan. 6, 7, at Huang Si Auditorium of the General Political Department.

3. Green Balcony, by Guangdong Provincial Theatre, 7:00pm Jan.7, 8, at the Blackbox Theatre of Beijing People's Art Theatre.

4. Years in the Dockyard, by Liaoning Provicial Theatre, 7:00pm Jan.8, 9, at People's Theatre.

5. Men's Battle Array, by General Political Dept. Theatre of China People's Libration Army, 7:00pm Jan.10,11, at Aug. 1st Theatre.

6. Thunderstorm, by Beijing People's Arts Theatre, 7:00pm Dec.25, at the Capital Theatre.

7. Soldier Sisters, by Combat Theatre of Lanzhou Military Area, 7:00pm Dec.26, 27 at Huang Si Auditorium of the General Political Dept.

8. It's So Nice Knowing You, a comedy by China Children's Theatre, 2:00pm Jan.2, at Children's Theatre.

--By Wang Ling
China Correspondent