This talk examines Tian Qinxin (1969- ), the current president of the National Theatre of China, and her significant contribution to the development of mainstream Chinese theatre in the 21st century.
Since her debut productions in the late 1990s, Tian has cultivated a distinctive directorial style, marked by a syncretic fusion of Western and traditional Chinese theatrical elements. While she has worked across a variety of genres, her primary focus has been on stage adaptations. Adaptation is not only a defining feature of her theatrical practice but also a central aspect of her professional life, where shifting political and cultural contexts necessitate her “performance” of various expressions of both femininity and masculinity. Tian’s remarkable adaptability enables her to skillfully navigate the evolving landscape of Chinese theatre, the demands of state cultural policy, and the requirements of the commercial theatre sector.
About the Speaker
Yuan Li is a Professor of English at the Faculty of English Language and Culture, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, China. She has held academic visitor positions at Cambridge University, Harvard University, Trinity College, and Concordia University. Currently, she serves as an academic advisor to the Guangzhou Drama Centre and is a member of the IASIL bibliography committee. Her teaching and research interests encompass Contemporary Chinese and Anglo-Irish drama and theatre, cinema, and translation studies. Her published books include Adaptations in the Life and Work of Director Tian Qinxin (author, Cambridge University Press, 2026), The Future of Globalization (translator, Springer, 2026), A History of 20th Century Irish Drama and Theatre (author, The Commercial Press, 2019), Franz Kafka and Chinese Culture (translator, London: Palgrave MacMillan, 2022). She has contributed articles to journals such as Asian Theatre Journal, New Theatre Quarterly, Journal of Popular Culture and Utilitas.
The ANU China Seminar Series is supported by the Australian Centre on China in the World at ANU College of Asia and the Pacific.