This anthology brings together the key works of one of China’s most significant contemporary theatre artists, introducing English-language readers both to his work and to the broader landscape of theatre-making in China today.
Wang Chong’s work with the Beijing-based theatre collective Théâtre du Rêve Expérimental has established him as a leader in twenty-first century experimental theatre both in China and abroad. Taking aim at the reification of dramatic “classics” and a range of social issues, Wang’s career is defined by his relentless pursuit of innovation through new modes of onstage expression and audience experience. The six performance texts and two manifestos in this anthology—presented in English for the first time—showcase Wang’s deconstructive and postdramatic approach to text and his forays into physical, devised, documentary, and intermedial theatre. Thunderstorm 2.0 and Warfare of Landmine 2.0 reconfigure well-known works of twentieth-century Chinese drama and film, while The Chairs 2.0 and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang 2.0 nod to Western titles even as they explore personal stories and intimacies rooted firmly in contemporary Asia. Made in China 2.0 and Lying Flat 2.0 represent Wang’s current critical and philosophical interventions, while his manifestos illustrate two key turning points in his career.