New and Now: Plays from China

Our first ever programme of plays by Chinese playwrights is a unique opportunity for British audiences to hear from a generation of writers who have grown up in a transforming nation.

The Royal Court’s International Department first began working in China in 2015, travelling the country to discover some of the most exciting new writers. Fifteen young playwrights took part in workshops in Chengdu, Beijing and Wuzhen over a two year period addressing subjects they felt it was urgent to write about in contemporary China.

Now, three of those writers, CHEN Si’an (陈思安), YANG Jingguan (杨静观) and ZHANG Zai (张在), will be working with Royal Court directors and a company of actors over two weeks in London. The plays will be presented as rehearsed readings in English translation.

The voices of three Chinese female writers express with power, humour and originality surprising insights into fascinating and fast-changing society.