More than 5,000 adult and children performers from home and abroad have applied to attend the fourth Shanghai International Children's Cultural and Art Festival, which will run from July 23 to 30 this year, said the festival organizer yesterday.

　　Like previous festivals, the triennial festival will feature performances catering to children.

　　Among the applicants, more than 1,000 are foreign performing troupes, an increase of 200 from the last festival in 2000.

　　All the performers attending the opening ceremony on July 24 at the Shanghai Grand Stage will perform on six stages in the city the next day.

　　Meanwhile, six foreign children's drama theaters and Shanghai-based CWI Children's Art Theater will stage their own drama plays in the "International Children's Drama Show," a feature of the festival.

　　Meanwhile, 158 children from some 30 countries and regions will exchange their ideas on the topic of "Learn to Care" at the first International Children's Forum, co-organized by the festival's committee and United Nation Children's Fund.

　　The first Shanghai International Children's Expo will be staged at Shanghai Eastern Asia Sports and Culture Center from July 19 through August 20.