On the afternoon of October 15, 2026, as an official session of the Performing Arts Market and International Dialogue at the 25th China Shanghai International Arts Festival, the Legal Practice Salon for the Performing Arts Industry—themed "When the Stage Extends to the Auditorium: Legal Boundaries and Compliance in Interactive Performances"—was held at the Bank of Communications New Bund 31 Performing Arts Center in Shanghai. Hosted by the Center for China Shanghai International Arts Festival and co-organized by Watson & Band Law Offices, the salon brought together cultural law enforcement officials, theater producers, venue managers, performers, and legal practitioners to discuss content compliance, audience interaction boundaries, and venue safety liabilities.

Opening Remarks: Clear Rules Empowering Artistic Innovation

Moderated by Mr. Zhu Xiaosu, Vice Chair of the Management Committee and Senior Partner at Watson & Band, the event opened with remarks by Managing Partner Mr. Qian Junliang. Mr. Qian noted that the rise of immersive and interactive theater has blurred traditional boundaries between performers and audiences, raising new legal questions concerning public interest, personality rights, and personal safety. Defining legal boundaries, he emphasized, is not meant to stifle artistic creativity, but to provide certainty and predictability so innovation can thrive safely and compliantly.

Roundtable I: Legal Thresholds for Performance Content — When Should the Law Intervene?

Moderated by Mr. Zhu Xiaosu, the first panel examined the legal limits of on-stage improvisation:

• Mr. Yuan Feiliang (Deputy Head of Team II, Law Enforcement Corps of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism) explained that obtaining performance approval does not grant carte blanche to alter program content on site. Material changes to core content require statutory approval procedures, whereas minor transitional ad-libs should be assessed based on their nature, context, and actual impact.

• Ms. Zhu Yingying (Director of the Administrative Office, Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre) noted that stage plays rely on tight coordination across script, direction, and stagecraft, where arbitrary ad-libbing can disrupt the production. She stressed that venues hosting external productions must also uphold on-site oversight and compliance responsibilities.

• Mr. Lian Chengjie (Partner, Watson & Band) advocated for full-lifecycle compliance management—embedding content review and risk checklists into project initiation and rehearsals, strictly executing approved scripts with emergency protocols during performances, and shifting legal risk control to the front end of creative production.

Roundtable II: Boundaries in Interactive Theater — Audience Participation and Venue Liability

Moderated by Watson & Band Senior Counsel Mr. Zeng Xiang, the second panel addressed audience participation and liability protection:

• Ms. Xiao Chunjie (Deputy General Manager and Production Stage Manager, Shanghai Shangyan Culture Investment Management Co., Ltd.) emphasized that breaking the "fourth wall" requires predefined interaction boundaries, rigorous actor training—especially for one-on-one immersive scenes—and tiered intervention protocols for rule violations.

• Mr. Wang Rongtao (Theater Actor) shared how extensive rehearsals and scenario simulations prepare actors for diverse audience reactions, noting that safety must always take precedence over maintaining plot continuity when conflicts or hazards arise.

• Ms. Yu Ye (Senior Associate, Watson & Band) pointed out that voluntary audience participation does not absolve organizers of their statutory duty of care. Physical contact requires prior informed consent and respect for a participant's right to withdraw, supported by clear venue rules and evidence preservation protocols.

Conclusion: Aligning Artistic Innovation with Legal Safeguards

Concluding the salon, Mr. Zhu Xiaosu remarked that clear legal boundaries give creators and performers the confidence to deliver their best work on stage. 

As long-standing legal counsel to the China Shanghai International Arts Festival, Watson & Band remains committed to supporting artistic exploration while strengthening risk management across the performing arts industry.