This book details the history of Chinese theatre, and British representations of Chinese theatre, on the London stage over a 250-year period.  A wide range of performance case studies – from exhibitions and British Chinese opera inspired theatre, to translations of Chinese plays and visiting troupes  – highlight the evolving nature of Sino-British trade, fashion, migration, the formation of diaspora, and international relations. Collectively, they outline the complex relationship between Britain and China – the rise and fall of the British Empire, and the fall and rise of China – as it was played out on the stages of London across three centuries. Drawing extensively upon archival materials and fieldwork research, the book offers new insights for intercultural British theatre in the 21^st century – ‘the Asian century’.

“Thorpe’s study offers a wonderful overview of the ways in which Chinese theater has been imagined, translated, adapted, and imported onto the London Stage for four hundred years. … Much more useful and interesting is the way this large overarching thesis allows for a series of fascinating case studies of Chinese theater imagined, imported, translated, and adapted for the London audience.” (Paize Keulemans, CHINOPERL, Vol. 37 (2), 2018)

Ashley Thorpe is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Drama & Theatre at Royal Holloway, University of London, UK. His first book, The Role of the Clown (‘Chou’) in Traditional Chinese Drama was published in 2007, and he has contributed to numerous journals, including Contemporary Theatre Review, Theatre Research International and Asian Theatre Journal.