Area of Learning
Learning from the Waves of the Past: How historical changes have shaped the present and can inform the future
This festival invites young people to explore how the past continues to echo through our stories, identities, and communities—using theatre as a lens to reflect on history and reimagine the future.

Festival Story
The festival story is the central idea that inspires exploration and creative work throughout an ISTA festival. Festival story coming soon.

Cultural Experience
Participants will explore the historical and cultural significance of UNESCO World Heritage Site Hangzhou’s iconic West Lake. They will engage with the lake’s rich heritage—drawing inspiration from its legends, poets, and past events to consider how its stories still resonate today and can shape our creative work.

ISTA Global Challenge
This festival is part of ISTA’s season-wide theme: Waves of Change. The challenge invites students to explore how change—across time, cultures, and communities—impacts our lives and creative expression. Through theatre, students will respond to the world around them while considering their own role in shaping the future.

Booking secures your place at an ISTA festival by providing estimated participant numbers and paying a deposit. Registration finalises all participant details to support accurate planning for workshops, catering, and logistics.

Booking

• Opens: 9:00am (UK time), Monday 5 May 2025
• Before booking, ensure your school can attend by confirming:
  
  • Travel restrictions and visa requirements
  • Parental approval
  • School authorisation
• At the time of booking, you must provide:
  
  • Estimated number of students
  • Estimated number of educators
  • Lead educator contact details

‍Deposit & Confirmation

• Once booked, you’ll receive an invoice for a 50% deposit based on student numbers. The deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable. Booking is only confirmed once the deposit is received (within 30 days). 
• Please only book spaces you are confident you can fill. 

Registration

• Opens: 9:00am (UK time), Monday 5 May 2025
• Closes: 11:59 pm (UK time), Friday 16 January 2026
• Once registration opens, schools with confirmed places should complete participant registration as soon as possible. You’ll need to provide final student and educator details along with confirmed travel information. 

‍Changes in Student Numbers

• Fewer students than booked? Deposits for those students are forfeited.
• Need more students? Additional spaces may be requested. A 50% deposit per added student will apply.

‍Waitlist

• If the event reaches capacity, it will be marked Waitlist. 
• To be added to the waitlist, email the Event Manager with your requested number of students and educators. Spaces will be offered in the order requests are received.

Arrival & Departure 

• Arrival: Afternoon of Thursday 19 March 2026 
• Departure: Evening of Sunday 22 March 2026

‍Transport

• Nearest Airport: Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH)
• Nearest Train station: Hangzhou East Railway Station
• Participants will be met at the Airport/Trainstation and transferred to the hotel on private bus.
• Airport/Train station transfers will be provided from the school directly to the airport at the end of the event on Sunday 22 March.
• Travel time between the school and the Airport/Train Station is approximately 40 minutes depending on traffic. Please plan your arrival and departure times accordingly. 

‍Visas

• It is the responsibility of the schools/participants to ensure they have the appropriate visas, as required.
• Please ensure that you start looking into visa requirements sooner rather than later as the process can take a significant amount of time.
• If you require assistance or additional documentation to support your visa applications please ensure to contact the event manager well in advance.

‍Accommodation

• This is a hotel stay event.
• Participants are responsible for arranging their own accommodation.

杭州鼎文国际交流中心-西门 Dingwen International Exchange Center 

The recommended hotel is located on the host school campus compound. This secure site offers easy walking access to the school venue and catering halls for both students and their chaperones. The hotel does not have a website, however once bookings are confirmed, the event manager can share a direct email contact for booking rooms.

Room rates: 358rmb/room/night
Students will be booked into shared rooms. Educator Chaperones will be booked into single rooms.

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ISTA festivals follow a two-step automated payment process:

‍Step 1: 50% Deposit at Booking

• Upon booking, a 50% deposit is required to secure your place. This deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable.
• Bookings are only confirmed once the deposit has been successfully paid.

‍Step 2: Final Balance After Registration Closes

• After registration closes, schools will be automatically invoiced for the remaining 50% of fees, based on the final number of students registered, plus any applicable surcharges.

‍Changes in Student Numbers

• Fewer students than booked: Deposits for non-attending students will be forfeited. (e.g. If 15 students are booked but only 10 attend, the deposit for 5 students is not refunded.)
• Additional students: A 50% deposit per added student will be invoiced at the time of the increase.

Festival Schedule 

• Start: Friday, 20 March 2026 8:30 AM
• End: Sunday, 22 March 2026 3:45 PM

‍Educator Workshops

• One theatre focused workshop for teacher chaperones
• Collaborative resource-sharing sessions

📄 E-Programmes containing detailed schedules, artist bios, and key event information will be sent to participating organisations two weeks before the event.

🍏 3 Breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 evening meals and snacks will be provided by the host. A pre-event evening meal may be arranged for schools arriving on Thursday. Details to be confirmed closer to the festival date.

• The ISTA Young Creative Leadership Programme (IYCLP) offers high school students aged 16+ a chance to develop as creative leaders. Through reflective tasks, mentorship, and leading at a middle school festival, students gain practical experience and create a plan to apply their leadership skills in their own communities. This valuable service-learning opportunity can also support other leadership initiatives.
• You can apply for IYCLP places during the festival booking process. 

Appropriate attire

• All participants must bring clothing that is suitable for physically active workshops during the day (athletic wear, PE kit, performance blacks, etc.) 

‍Please note

• Participants not dressed appropriately for physically active workshops may be asked to sit out.
• Participants may be asked to remove footwear, jewellery etc. for some workshops.
• Chewing gum is not permitted in any of the workshop spaces.

‍Materials 

• Pens, pencils, highlighters etc. for notetaking. 
• Refillable water bottle