MADE IN CHINA 2.0

In the organizer's words:

Performance | By Wang Chong | TIPPING POINTS series

"Made in China 2.0" is a moving solo performance by Chinese director Wang Chong about failure, farewells and generational conflicts. After presenting the play in 2025 as part of the Forum at the Berlin Theatertreffen, Wang Chong is now bringing it to the FWT in Cologne.
A bitter career break, triggered by a dangerous decision, brings hidden family secrets from the deep past to light. With humorous exaggeration and ruthless directness, the play shows how the painstakingly balanced existence of an individual can suddenly be thrown off balance by unexpected factors - and can tip over for good.

"Made in China 2.0" cleverly introduces the audience to distant, complex realities of life through multi-perspective storytelling and references to internet culture. The result is a rousing, hopeful snapshot of an artist's life in uncertain times - a manifesto for the daring and irreconcilability of an artistic subject, in China and beyond. Since its premiere in Boston in 2023, the play has toured over 60 times through 12 countries and six continents.

Duration: 55 minutes
Sprache/Language: Englisch mit deutschen Übertiteln/ English with German subtitles

Wang Chong is the founder of the Théâtre du Rêve Expérimental, a performance group based in Beijing. He is the Chinese theater director with the most international commissions: His works have been performed in more than 20 countries and praised by critics all over the world. Wang Chong's works radically rethink classical and contemporary literatures, experimenting with theatrical forms and multimedia strategies to provide critical, often confrontational commentary on modern Chinese history. Wang Chong's works include: "The Warfare of Landmine 2.0", which won the Festival/Tokyo Award in 2013; "Lu Xun", which was named the best Chinese performance of 2016 by the Beijing News; "Teahouse 2.0", which won the One Drama Award The Best Little Theater Performance of 2017; and "Asiawochen", premiering in 2026 at Theater Heidelberg. He has been leading a global nomadic life since 2022.

The guest performance Made in China 2.0 is supported by the Kunststiftung NRW.