MixC Family-Friendly Theater Season concludes in Nanshan

The 2026 MixC Family-Friendly Theater Season recently concluded at the China Resources Tower Art Center in Nanshan District, bringing a series of performances and workshops to a close amid laughter and emotion.

Children take part in an object-based puppet theater performance during the MixC Family Theater Season. Photos courtesy of RunArt

Launched on Aug. 5, the season centered on new circus and explored a progression from individual emotions to family relationships and social integration. Through this framework, it offered families in Shenzhen a gradual journey of discovery — from the self and the family to the wider world.

The program featured three productions spanning clown and object-based puppet theater, physical theater using objects, and physical theater incorporating installations. It also included three workshops focused on object creation, costume design, and the exploration of sound and movement.

Combining immersive performances with hands-on activities, the program encouraged children to engage with art through direct experience while giving families opportunities to share meaningful moments in the theater.

Children participating in a costume design workshop pose for a group photo with their instructors.

With three productions and three workshops, the season created an integrated experience that combined theatergoing with active participation. Organizers said children’s theater should not be limited to one-way performances on stage. Instead, it should enable children to move from being audience members to becoming creators, transforming parent-child time from simply watching together into a shared experience.

The season was a family arts program developed by RunArt as part of efforts to support Shenzhen’s development as a child-friendly city. Guided by the philosophy of “educating through theater and nurturing the heart through beauty,” the program aims to bring high-quality children’s theater beyond niche venues and into the everyday lives of more families.

The season was supported by the Special Fund for the Development of Publicity, Culture and Sports of Nanshan District, guided by the Culture, Media, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Nanshan District, and organized by RunArt.