"The Bus Stop" staged reading of a bold play that was banned in China

Join us at La Maison Française at the Embassy of France for a cultural evening of great theatre and post-show drinks, afterwards. Hosted by Villa Albertine DC, The Bus Stop is an absurdist play written in 1981 by one of China's most powerful dissident voices. The original run was well received—yet it was shut down by the CCP's Anti-Spiritual Pollution Campaign after only 13 shows. It is now banned in mainland China. Still, this play remains an influential work for those yearning for freedom and to better their lives.
PLOT: A group of colorful characters wait at a bus stop in the suburbs of China. One bus after another passes them by as their lives and dreams also seem to slip away. Tempers flare and they begin to argue with one another. The "Silent Man" and "Carpenter" aim to calm tensions, restore order, and urge others to get back in line. One by one, the characters begin to open up, sharing their stories and hardships about why they are headed into town. Finally a bus arrives only to flash a message, "Not Operational". The people begin to question why they're wasting their lives away here.

The Bus Stop by Gao Xinjiang | Translated by Shiao-Ling Yu
Directed by Robert McNamara

Important Security Rules: Each person attending the event must have a ticket registered in their name and a government-issued ID that matches the name on the reservation to enter the Embassy. No one will be admitted without a reservation and official ID. Due to strict security measures, please arrive early, as doors will be closed at 7:30 pm sharp. Please allow for extra time for security screenings.

This event is hosted by Villa Albertine DC. Villa Albertine, a new French institution for arts and ideas in the United States, builds on the bold and innovative programs that have been the hallmark of the French cultural network abroad for more than a century. With offices in ten cities across the country, the Cultural Services of the French Embassy crafts projects and programs that make French language and culture more accessible in the US and builds partnerships that strengthen collaboration between French and American institutions.