Students wait in long queues for last year's entrance exam at the Shanghai Theater Academy.
By 7pm on January 7, a total of 34,827 students had applied for the entrance examination of the Shanghai Theater Academy, to be held from January 14 to March 2, officials from the academy said.
It sets a new record for the number of candidates vying for a place this year, a 12.6 percent increase over last year. The application deadline will be 7pm, January 10.
They will compete for a total of 484 places in acting, directing, TV hosting, scriptwriting, dance and stage art.
In addition to examinations at the academy, the students are also required to deliver good performance at the national college entrance exam.
The academy has also launched a new major in theater studies which will enroll 15 students this year.
The most sought-after acting department will enroll just 68 students in two majors — film and TV acting, and musical acting. So far more than 6,000 students from all over the country have applied for admission to the department.
The applicants will receive tests in recitation, singing, dancing and gymnastics during three rounds of examination.
According to Huang Changyong, director of the Shanghai Theater Academy, they are dedicated to nurturing high-level theater artists with all-round ability and creativity.
“Despite the flourishing of film and TV industries, we still have a lack of good directors and scriptwriters,” Huang said.
