Abstract

The 2009 eco-theatre production Jianghe xing (River! River! River!), directed by Shanghai-based director Zang Ningbei, reminds its audience of the environmental and ecological impact of hydropower generation projects in the Three Rivers area in Southwest China. This article examines the ways in which River! River! River! identifies itself with minjian xiju (theatre among the people, or, theatre of people to people), and explores River! River! River!’s utopian performative potential to create a public forum within the theatre in which citizens’ questioning is allowed, exchanges of knowledge are encour¬aged, and involvement in environmental matters are activated.

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