The Shanghai Drama Art Center will stage an Asian contemporary drama season this September, during which one third of the plays are planned to be shown with half ticket price.

The weeklong drama season, cosponsored by Shanghai Art and Literature Association, Shanghai Media Group and Shanghai Drama Art Center, is scheduled to open on Sept. 6.

Troupes from six countries will give 29 performances of 11 plays and the ticket prices vary from 80 to 200 yuan (US$9.9-24.7).

The center sources said they will sell at half price the tickets of plays shown in the afternoon and the last performance of every play.

According to the rough estimation of the organizing committee, about 8,000 people will come to watch the plays.

Many citizens say that they are willing to go to theaters if the ticket price is cut down by half.

The biennial drama season, with ten years' history, was firstly held in Osaka, Japan.  

(Xinhua News Agency August 26, 2005)