Lecture by Claire Conceison, "The Badass Theater of Meng Jinghui"
The leading director in China for the past 25 years, Meng Jinghui (孟京辉) is known for his experimental productions and his edgy, playful “badass” persona. His productions include radical adaptations of western classics as well as original and collaborative creations. He is credited with bringing avant-garde theater to mainstream audiences and bringing young people to the theater in unprecedented numbers.
This presentation will review Meng’s unique career and creations, illustrated by images and video clips.
Claire Conceison (康开丽) is Quanta Professor of Chinese Culture and Professor of Theater Arts at MIT. She is a scholar, translator, and director who has spent time in the theater communities of Beijing and Shanghai for 30 years.
Her publications include Significant Other: Staging the American in China (2004), Ying Ruocheng’s autobiography Voices Carry: Behind Bars and Backstage During China's Revolution and Reform (2009), and the introduction to the recent edition of Arthur Miller’s 1984 book Salesman in Beijing (2015).
Her anthology of plays with Meng Jinghui, I Love XXX and Other Plays, was published last year and includes English translations of five plays co-created and directed by Meng, along with an extensive introduction, chronology, production photographs, and DVD with scenes from performances.
Sponsored by the Asian Societies, Cultures and Languages Program
