The transnational impact on identity formation in theatre across the Chinese-speaking world

The 1980s was a most important decade for global Chinese theatre. In large part prompted by changes in regional geopolitics, the search for a local identity peaked among the Chinese communities in East and Southeast Asia.

This period coincided with the rise of the professional careers of four important diasporic director-playwrights – Gao Xingjian 高行健 (b. 1940), Danny Yung Ning Tsun 榮念曾 (b. 1943), Stan Lai Sheng-chuan 賴聲川 (b. 1954), and Kuo Pao Kun 郭寶崑 (1939–2002) – whose efforts shaped the contemporary Chinese-language theatre scenes across China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. While the geopolitical conditions of the Cold War imposed ethno-nationalist identities across the region, in contrast, these dramatists weaved together native, foreign, and Chinese elements in their theatre praxis to give voice to the local. 

At the same time, by performing cultural identities alternative to the ones sanctioned by their own states, they also debunked the notion of a unified 'Chineseness'. Professor Wah Guan Lim's talk highlights the key role theatre and performance played in suturing identity in the diaspora and circulating people and ideas across geographical space, well before cross-strait relations were yet to thaw.

Registration

This event is open to the public and free to attend; however, registration is required. This event is taking place on campus and will not be recorded or live-streamed.

Organiser

This event has been organised by the SOAS China Institute.

Image credit: Quan-You Zhong on Unsplash