Chinese Boxing

Is there going to be a clash between China and the West? Ukraine is the crisis of the moment but it is China’s rise that will dominate the 21st Century. How might it happen? Why?

Chinese Boxing is a bold, innovative, and amusing piece of theatre that tackles the question from both sides, with no pulled punches. Turning to the past to talk about the present – a traditional Chinese way of addressing difficult questions – the play is set in 1912 as an evening lecture to the fictional Chiswick branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. The speaker is Sir Claude MacDonald, former British Minister to Peking in 1900 during the famous Boxer Uprising. Sir Claude wants to discuss China and the West ‘today’ – that’s 1912 for him, today for us. 1912 was the year of the foundation of the Republic of China; a new country, a rising power the world must accommodate. Sound familiar? But he starts by ‘taking you back to Peking in 1900’ and accidentally does just that, to the Imperial Palace, where you hear the story from the Chinese side. It is not straightforward and will challenge your view of the past… and the present. Writer and performer Mark Kitto lived in China for 18 years. He performed with the Shanghai People’s Arts Theatre and others. He has written two books about the country and countless articles. He was Prospect Magazine’s China columnist for many years. After the show, he hosts a lively Q&A session.

Reviews

‘A very good place to start if you want to understand China,’ Cindy Yu, The Spectator (full review here)

‘Beguiling...fascinating... This is a show to see,’ Libby Purves (full review here)

‘Entrancing… incredibly powerful.’ Carla Phillips, Eastern Daily Press

‘A stimulating and original show – I learned tons.’ Jonathan Freedland, Guardian/Radio 4

‘Historically fascinating, beautifully written.’ David Haig, actor and playwright

Practical info

Tickets: £18/£15 concessions

Running time: 70 minutes, followed by a Q&A after a short interval.

Guidance: The show includes occasional strong language and the sound of battle and gunfire.

Seating: Please note row H, the back row, is high bench seating. The auditorium has steps up the center aisle, so book towards the front for anyone who may have difficulty with steps or heights.