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A humorous semi-autobiographical account inspired by true stories:

Thirty years of life, years of matrimony, and a 30-day cooling-off period.

A wealth of encounters, a cascade of flashbacks, and a woman’s unfiltered admission.

Here is a room of her own, an ecological aquarium, and a moment of introspection.

Transitioning from wife to daughter to self, she unveils the intricate tapestry of a “middle-aged woman.”

From venting about the ex-husband to diving into Virginia Woolf, she embarks on a journey to discover the innate independence of the female psyche.

 

ABOUT A FLEXITARIAN

A FLEXITARIAN, a 2022 production by JIANG Fan and ZHUANG Jiayun (The Three Bowls Co-op), is a monologue theatre that blends the physical and the verbal, the performative and the documentary.

Centered around Hu Douzi, a lonely soul in her Shanghai home, the play explores her quest for fresh and diverse spiritual independence that she has never experienced, at a particular point in time when she is materially self-sufficient and emotionally blank as a result of her divorce. In the play, she assumes the roles of both protagonist and narrator, traversing different mediums and spatial-temporal dimensions.

Through the female multitudes evoked by Hu Douzi’s reflections and recollections, A FLEXITARIAN brings to life the intricate experiences of women. It delves into the transactional aspects women confront and internalize in various domains, the social prejudices and self-anxieties they must overcome as “middle-aged women,” and the delicate balance of freedom, responsibility, family, and friendship. Truth and humor resodund throughout A FLEXITARIAN, while its true vigor lies in the defiant voices of women rejecting mediocrity and triviality. It navigates their journey of maturation, aging, emotional aftermath of trauma, and the myriad of gendered challenges they encounter.

 

HIGHLIGHTS

 

"The 30-day cooling-off period is up and I can get a divorce now."

In this evocative theatre piece exploring the aftermath of divorce, Hu Douzi, a 30-something divorced woman without children, delves into the realms of material independence and emotional void that divorce brings while pursuing spiritual autonomy. Taking the stage to recount the gains and losses she experienced in her marriage, Hu Douzi humorously declares her ownership of “an apartment with 70 years of property rights in Changning District” as a tangible asset acquired through her marriage, while acknowledging her prolonged struggle to understand her own desires. Her narrative traverses from her ex-husband to Virginia Woolf, intertwining her personal divorce story with the realities of her friend’s marriage. As she contemplates the significance of marriage in her mother’s life, she also confronts the profound impact her mother had on her own journey of self-discovery.

 

A Semi-autobiographical, one-woman monologue

A FLEXITARIAN is a monologue theatre that combines the physical and the verbal, the performative and the documentary. The piece employs rich and expressive language, intricately woven with the power of physicality. The script abounds with well-turned and well-placed lines that resonate with the audience.

In contemplation, our protagonist reflects on the path that led them to their divorce, pondering, “I also didn't figure out at what point our relationship went sour.”

She finds admiration in the independent spirit of Virginia Woolf, quoting, “a lock on the door means the power to think for oneself.”

She also discusses the complex dynamics between she and her mother, revealing “Whenever my mom loves me, I want to love back.”

 

From a spoken theatre to a dance theatre, a new version of A FLEXITARIAN.

A FLEXITARIAN is a theatrical creation by JIANG Fan and Zhuang Jiayun of The Three Bowls Co-op), originating in 2022. The production was invited to participate in the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) Special Youth Theatre Festival in 2022 and premiered at the YOUNG Theatre.

The 2023 rendition of A FLEXITARIAN expands upon the development of the 2022 performance, incorporating an enhanced array of physical components. It is set to enthrall audiences at SIDC in August.  

 

Take a seat closer for an intimate conversation, as both on-stage and off-stage seating are available.

The performance offers two types of seats: on-stage and off-stage. In the performance, JIANG Fan portrays the character of Hu Douzi, engaging in a direct dialogue with the audience. Together, we delve into topics such as marriage, family, the complexities of mother-daughter relationships, feminism, and the transformative journey of self-discovery. Prepare for an intimate and immersive experience in the dialogue surrounding these deeply resonant themes.

 

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM

 

The Three Bowls Co-op

Co-founded in 2017 by JIANG Fan and ZHUANG Jiayun, The Three Bowls Co-op is a performance group that embraces a flexible and open-minded creative approach. They experiment with interdisciplinary and non-hierarchical integration of theatre, dance, live music, interactive media, and various mediums and means of expression. Their works center around social issues, with a particular focus on topics related to women.

 

Director/Performer: JIANG Fan

JIANG Fan, an independent artist based in Shanghai and the founder of The Three Bowls Co-op, is a joint artist of SIDC (Shanghai International Dance Center). She obtained her degree in choreography from the Shanghai Theatre Academy. In 2014, she established Qiankongfan Theatre, where her debut production, Refracted Shadow, received the Best Drama of the Year award from One Drama Awards in 2015. In May 2017, JIANG Fan co-founded the Three Bowls Co-op alongside ZHUANG Jiayun. Their creative work, Web Traffic, marked the first commissioned piece choreographed by a youth artist for SIDC. JIANG has also collaborated with various theatre groups and performing institutes such as the Living Dance Studio, the Niao Collective, Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center, Archa Theatre, Zagreb Dance Center, and Eurokaz Zagreb, introducing a multitude of captivating theatre and dance pieces to the public. Her recent works include Along at War (2008, 2010), Rhapsody of Doomsday (2012), Refracted Shadow 1.0/2.0/3.0 (2014-2016) and Dining with Me (2016), and Now Loading… (2021).

 

Playwright: ZHUANG Jiayun

Jiayun is a theatremaker and theatre educator. She holds a playwriting degree from the Central Academy of Theatre and a Ph.D. in Theater and Performance Studies from UCLA, having been honored with an Andrew Mellon Fellowship. She has taught in the Department of Dramatic Art at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the Beijing Dance Academy. As a theatremaker, Jiayun focuses on experimenting with storytelling paradigms and exploring technical possibilities within theatre and performance. Her recent ventures include the development of algorithm-driven, generative performances. She has contributed as a playwright and dramaturg at CAMLab, Harvard University, and as a dramaturg for the PlayMakers Repertory Company in Chapel Hill. In 2017, Jiayun, in collaboration with choreographer JIANG Fan, co-founded The Three Bowls Co-op, embarking on interdisciplinary theatre and performance experiments with a focus on women's themes. She has also collaborated extensively with various theatre groups as a playwright/writer, concept designer, and theatre/dance dramaturg.

 

CREATIVE TEAM

Created by The Three Bowls Co-op

Performed by JIANG Fan

Playwright: ZHUANG Jiayun

Music: LI Xin, FENG Yucheng

Light design: LIU Yilan

Stage Director: GUAN Honghui

Photography: YIN Xuefeng

Multimedia Design: Nick

Special Thanks to: HUANG Luling, BAO Han, Theatre YOUNG, WEI Man, GAO Sang, LIU Yiping, MEI Jing

 

Dance Out of The Box China Contemporary Dance Biennale

Dance Out of The Box China Contemporary Dance Biennale is a regular showcase of contemporary dance works by domestic young choreographers. The event aims to provide a platform for domestic contemporary dance choreographers to display their works and promote the cutting-edge contemporary dance from China to the world. Following the tradition, the theater will officially present the 2023 Dance Out of The Box China Contemporary Dance Biennale from August 18th to 27th.

The event, initiated and hosted by Shanghai International Dance Center Theater, consists of three main sections: dance performances, workshops, and showcases, bringing together domestic young choreographers, inspiring their passion for creation, and exposing Chinese contemporary dance to the global stage. Starting from August 18th, four dance works will meet with the audience, including Shoulder Hug. Dance. Hug Shoulder, Flexitarian, Talking Body, and Silent Flight. Additionally, workshops and outdoor short performances will be open to the public for free.

 

Dance Out of The Box

Dance Out of The Box is an artistic brand specially created by Shanghai International Dance Center Theater, aiming to aspire the creativity of young artists and break conventional boundaries through dance. Under this brand, there are two major festival events: Dance Out of The Box Festival, which introduces cutting-edge international dance works, and Dance Out of The Box China Contemporary Dance Biennale, which focuses on works by domestic young choreographers.

The two events are held alternately every year, with one bringing in international masterpieces and the other showcasing domestic works. Through these events, Shanghai International Dance Center Theater continues to build an artistic platform that encourages innovation and crossover integration, explores diverse spaces for the expression of contemporary dance art and propels artists' creativity and achievements towards new horizons.

NOTICE

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