Chinese contemporary dramas to debut in New York for China Fringe Theater Festival

The China Fringe Theater Festival will be held in New York City on Feb 8-16, featuring the premiere of three Chinese plays in the United States at the La MaMa Experimental Theater Club (La MaMa).

The international event will give young Chinese artists and China's contemporary arts more exposure overseas, as one show Two Dogs to be staged is a typical work of contemporary Chinese avant-garde plays, which has enjoyed high popularity in China especially among the young generation since its premiere in 2007.

Featuring physical comedy and improvisation combined with double act and rock music, the drama tells a thought-provoking story of two dogs journeying to a big city to pursue their dreams.

Directed by Meng Jinghui, one of China's most influential playwrights and theater directors, Two Dogs has been performed more than 2,000 times throughout China and at international venues and festivals.

Renowned for his experimental dramas, Chinese director Li Ning and his troupe, the Physical Guerrillas, will bring The Dictionary of Soul to the festival, a pioneering work of physical theater, which highlights storytelling primarily through physical movements.

Completing the festival lineup is The Story of Xiaoyi, an interactive psychodrama composed of four major sections, i.e. Dramatic Presentation, Interactive Experiences, Volunteer Interpretation and Hui Diji's Heart Forum, based on real stories and psycho-social counseling cases.

All performances will be presented in Chinese with English subtitles.

The event is part of the second annual Creative China Festival (CCF), which is co-organized by Beijing Contemporary Art Foundation (BCAF) and Creative China Center in New York.

The current CCF has been open from September 2018 to March 2019 in New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, San Diego, and Seattle.

The CCF aims to nurture innovative creators and foster in-depth collaborations between China and the United States in contemporary arts and culture.

Founded in 1961, La MaMa has become a world-renowned cultural institution in Manhattan. The upcoming China Fringe Theater Festival is co-organized by La MaMa, BCAF, Beijing Fringe Festival, Shanghai Huidiji Public Psychological Care Center, and The Physical Guerrillas.