Made in China 2.0 REVIEW 2 March 2023 ****

THEATRE

Written, co-directed and performed by Wang Chong

Malthouse Theatre

At Beckett Theatre, Malthouse, Southbank until 19 March 2023

Reviewer: Kate Herbert

Stars: ****
This is not a review in the traditional sense, although I've given the production stars.

This print comment will be published only on this blog. I’ll do a radio comment on Arts Weekly 3MBS on Sat 11 March 2023. KH

 

Wang Chong_Made in China 2.0_credit Tamarah Scott

 Made in China 2.0 is the second production presented in Australia by Wang Chong, a Chinese theatre director, writer and performer. The first was Little Emperors in 2017, also at the Malthouse, written by Chong with Lachlan Philpott.

In this unusual, solo performance, co-directed by Emma Valente, Chong begins with a casual, direct address to the audience that reveals him to be, a charming, ebullient performer as he talks engagingly about his development as a theatre artist and his life in art. 

What follows is a sometimes surprising, often harrowing but always enlightening representation of his risk-taking theatre style and his personal views on art and life.

Chong is magnetic and his theatrical style is challenging and will leave you with plenty to think and talk about on the trip home - and perhaps for days after.

I am unable to discuss the specifics of this production, so this is not a review as such. You’ll have to see Chong's charismatic performance to judge it for yourself.

By Kate Herbert

 Credits

Wang Chong – writer performer, co-director

Emma Valente -co-director, production designer

Emma Lockhart Wilson – co-designer

Wang Chong_Made in China 2.0_credit Tamarah Scott