"After I found out that some of my schoolmates who performed at the festival's outdoor carnival got to meet and take photos with Lai in Wuzhen, I also wanted to join the competition."

The play she created for the contest is an interpretation of the Fisherman and the Jinni, a story from the compilation of Arabic folk tales, titled One Thousand and One Nights. Zhou tried to integrate elements of traditional Chinese opera, such as postures and drumbeats, with an avant-garde approach to drama.

"I began to learn Chinese opera when I was 9 years old," she says. "I want to use what I've learned from the opera in my drama work. I'm sure that's my direction in the future as well."

By comparing her own work with those of her peers in the competition, Zhou says she clearly noticed her lack of a thorough grounding in the theories of theater and acting.

"I was awakened by the contest. I realized that I should stay grounded and make greater efforts to achieve my goal, step by step," Zhou adds.

Chiu Hung-chun, 24, a graduate from the Taiwan University of Art, says that meeting experienced directors, playwrights, actors and actresses at the competition is an efficient way to further youngsters' artistic potential.