Presented By: Confucius Institute at the University of Michigan
Experimental Theatre in China Today
Lecture by Claire Conceison, Professor of Theater Studies and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Duke University

Speaker's abstract: A brief overview of theater’s development in China and introduction to some of the most influential playwrights and directors, including Yu Rongjun in Shanghai and Meng Jinghui in Beijing. Accompanied by photographs and video clips, this presentation will explain how forces such as politics, globalization, and commercialization have shaped performances on stage in contemporary China, and how artists like Yu and Meng have renewed the popularity of theater for young urban audiences.