The Seventh Day

MENG Theatre Studio

Adapted from Yu Hua

Directed by Meng Jinghui


WHEN:

November 25, 2022, 19:30

November 26, 2022, 14:30

November 26, 2022, 19:30

November 27, 2022, 19:30


WHERE: Wuzhen Grand Theatre


Duration: 130 minutes (without intermission)

Performed in Chinese, with English subtitles


Reviews


Moving, infuriating, thought-provoking. The profound significance and witty humor of Yu Hua's novel find a real echo in this adaptation for the theatre.

 Christophe Candoni, Sceneweb


This show, presented at the Avignon Festival, is skillfully expressed by its actors, in particular the impressive Chen Minghao, who embodies Yang Fei to the point of madness. With tremendous energy and intensity, the actors throw themselves headlong into the coliseum of death… All the bodies bend, contract, leap, tear each other apart, and love each other, just for this final fight against eternal oblivion.

 Laurence Péan, La Croix


The play begins, poetically, in a haze. The text is poetic, accompanied by ethereal music, lingering in the ears and haunting the heart. Yet there is  intense action which meets the gentle, poetic atmosphere in this rich performance, and the humor that appears from time to time amid the tension onstage is just right for letting the work breathe.

 Jean-Louis Blanc, INFERNO


The play achieves the high quality that a stage production can achieve in every respect. On the stage, visitors from the land of the dead share with us their perspectives on our society.

 Marie-José Sirach, L'Humanité


The work is really beautiful, very wonderful, and extremely intense! It certainly shows a deep concern for humanity.

Olivier Py, director of the Avignon Festival


About The Seventh Day


This is the tale of the seven days following an ordinary man’s death. It explores his relationships with others, as well as the border between life and death, where he finds a world flooded with trance, memories, and dreams. He finds himself in mists that bring him to his father, wife, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances. Moments of regret flow into his faint memories of the city where he lived. A measure of impudence blooms from senses shrouded in mist and sadness. As the truths accumulate, he ponders karma and searches within himself with the freed eyes of a ghost. The world of the living is rough and cruel; the world of the dead is gentle as water, and on a nearby tree hangs a beating heart.



Credits


Adapted from the novel by Yu Hua

Director: Meng Jinghui


Cast: Cast: Chen Minghao, Mei Ting, Huang Xiangli, Sun Yucheng, Wang Zihang, Han Shuo, Xiao Dingchen


Music Director: Hua Shan

Composers: Hua Shan, Wang Chuang

Lyrics: Huang Xiangli, Mei Ting, Chen Minghao

Live Band: EB virus

Scenographer: Zhang Wu

Lighting Design: Wang Qi

Sound Design: Zhang Xinnan

Set Director/Style Design: Yu Lei

Stage Manager: Jia Yuying

Lighting Design Assistant: Chen Nan

Sound Operation: Chang Siyu

Lighting Operation: Wang Yuhao

Make-up: Luo Yuan

Costume: Li Yingxin

Stage Settings: Yang Pengtao, Wu Jike, Chen Yilong, Li Zhenyu, Zhang Hui

Director's Assistant: Li Huayi


Production Director: Wen Ronghua

Production Cordinator: Cao Shang

Executive Producer: Zhang Qi

Publicity Director: Wang Hao

Publicity: Zhang Yue, Miao Dan

Poster Design: Huang Yijie

English Subtitles Translator: Claire Conceison (USA)

Documentary: Chen Xurenren


About Meng Jinghui


Meng Jinghui is the most influential stage director in contemporary Chinese theatre. His productions have transformed the theatre scene in China with their sharp wit and social critique. Their diversity and creativity have become a cultural phenomenon, with more than 50 works staged since the 1990s, all eliciting strong reactions.


About MENG Theatre Studio



MENG Theatre Studio was established in 1997. Its creative foundation has always been the principle of diversification and the spirit of the avant-garde. On this basis, MENG Theatre Studio has presented more than 40 pieces of contemporary theatre work—works which have been at the forefront of Chinese theatre art. Among them, Rhinoceros in Love is known as "the bible of contemporary love," and has been played more than 2,500 times.


In addition, MENG Theatre Studio has traveled all over the world to present their theatre works and to participate in international theatre festivals in, for example, Japan, Korea, Mexico, France, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Austria, Brazil, and Egypt.



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