China
The Pleasure Troupe
Written by Gao Yuan
Directed by MaYan
2024
10.23, 20:00
10.24, 20:00
Studio Theatre of the Grand Theatre
Duration: 90 minutes (without intermission)
Performed in Chinese, with Chinese and English subtitles and sign language
Reviews
Tonight's theatre performance and photography exhibition showcased the abilities and creativity of people with disabilities... By giving a voice to the disabled community, art and culture can inspire dialogue and social change.
Chang Qide, UN Resident Coordinator in China
I am proud of the cast of The Revised Future and I am also proud of the Nanjing Festival of New Theatre. Theatre has enriched the lives of the cast members, and through their efforts, they have enriched the lives of the audience.
Stan Lai, playwright and director
They overcame difficulties beyond ordinary imagination, dedicating themselves to the stage where time and space intertwine, using their bodies to explore and redefine "the body."
Nanjing Radioand Television
Beyond the cross-casting of disability and ability, female and male, the boundaries of these identities are also fluid. At this moment, multiple experiences overlap within the same body; the actors become each other, experiencing another possible way of life.
Beijing Youth Daily
The transformed "new humans," having experienced disability, can fully empathize with the plight of the vulnerable. Thus, those who have been through the rain choose to hold an umbrella for able-bodied people, ultimately leading to a fulfilling conclusion.
Arts and Culture of Beijing Youth Daily
About The Revised Future
The story takes place in the distant future, when human beings are struggling to continue the civilization of the Earth by setting up a colony on Mars; meanwhile, Martian immigrants are being attacked by alien groups. Some people advocate the preservation of the Earth's civilization and fight fiercely against the invading alien colonizers. They are known as the "Earthlings," whereas the brainwashed people accepted the body modification of the Samus and they are known as the "Modifiers." They believe that only physical mutilation can make a person's soul whole, while the "Earthlings"—those who are able-bodied and powerless to fight back—are gradually marginalized. As a charge of patricide is brought against the able-bodied teenager with dreams of mathematics, the plight of the able-bodied are seen. As the trial progresses, the story unfolds as various characters come to fore, piecing together the full details of the case.
Credits
Playwright: Gao Yuan
Director: Ma Yan
Cast: Chen Xiao, Feng Qianqian, Li Xinghao, Luo Yingbin, Wang Yu, Wang Yi, Zhu Xiaoyan, Wang Xiaomin, Zhang Xue, Zuo Dandan, Zhao Yu, Shan Lianfang, Lou Gaojie, She Wenjuan
Executive Director: Zhao Chunyue
Lighting Design: Cao Yalei
Sound: Chen Siyu
Stage Design: Zhou Zewei
Subtitles: Liu Yuntong
Producer: Sun Yaoyao
Co-producer: Wu Yuan
Coordinator: Yang Tang
Stage Management: Kong Miao, Chen Liyun, Wang Zuojun
Photography: Li Hengying, Li Shuo
Thank NANJING Festival of New Theatre for its support during the creation of this play.
About Ma Yan
Studied drama at The theatre college of USC; former assistant teacher at the IO West Comedy School in Los Angeles. Currently, a cooperating screenwriter and director of the CCTV Social and Law Channel column; Initiator of Public Welfare Theatre Workshop at Dongcheng Bureau of Culture and Tourism; Lecturer of Drama at Yuanpei College, Peking University; Teacher of Basic Acting at the Central Academy of Fine Arts; Chief drama director of the variety comedy show "Saturday Night Live" (周六夜现场); Screenwriter of the CCTV Party Founding 100-year-anniversary special program: "The Extraordinary One Hundred Years"; Screenwriter of the "Community Heroes" column on CCTV; Director and screenwriter of multiple stage plays focused on realistic and public welfare themes.
About The Pleasure Troupe
The Pleasure Troupe is an original theater brand founded by enthusiasts from various backgrounds. Its mission is to convey the diverse stories of the disability community through theater, while also reimagining and enriching the life experiences of individuals with disabilities. Furthermore, the troupe emphasizes artistic practices as a means to connect people with and without disabilities, transcending physical limitations to foster an inclusive and harmonious social atmosphere. This approach allows different groups to participate equally in the creation and performance of theater, enabling honest conversations with oneself and free expression.