In the West, we are somewhat familiar with Chinese opera and acrobatic troupes. But what about contemporary Chinese theatre and its makers? How do we access the plays that entertain and touch audiences in the East? And how can we develop further cultural dialogue?

This talk will start with an outline of theatre in London and how this has engaged with China. Then the speaker will present a snapshot of the major theatrical centers in mainland China, in Beijing and Shanghai, how they have embraced Western forms, and yet how each city differs in approach. There will also be a look at the theatre of Hong Kong, which is very much a hybrid of East meets West.

To aid our understanding, we can explore how the theatre being produced in the East is (and is not) comparable to Broadway, Off-Broadway and the fringe theatre of the West. We will then examine the barriers and opportunities for creating work in China, from cultural contexts to issues of translation, as well as the potential to be able to bring exciting, canonical, modern Chinese plays to the West.

Theatre director Jonathan Man, of Hong Kong Chinese descent and born & bred in the U.K., has been working on projects in China and Hong Kong the past three years, and will be sharing his creative journey. He has directed a variety of shows on different scales, including “Monkey!” - based on the classic novel “Journey to the West”, and "wAve" - a Korean American re-imagining of the "Medea" myth. He is the first British director to have been programmed for the Beijing International Fringe Festival, and he has worked on two Shakespeare productions in Shanghai.

He is now looking to create ambitious theatre productions in the U.K. and the U.S. to platform the Chinese contemporary canon, as well as developing innovative theatre for audiences in China & Hong Kong. His work draws from the East and the West, and his cultural background has allowed him to gain a unique insight into the Chinese theatrical landscape.