Experimental new play casts audience members in roles

Ding Xinghui plays the role of a starving warthog which is trying to flee a conflict area. A mouse accompanying her dies before she finally finds meat to eat, but has no idea that it's actually another warthog that she's devouring. This is a scene from Where Do We Come From, What Are We, Where Are We Going 2.0, the latest play by theater director Wang Chong.

It recently premiered at the Goethe-Institut at Beijing's 798 art zone, as part of the ongoing exhibition Assemblage that focuses on migration issues related to China.

The 30-minute play was performed by audience members like Ding. There were four roles in all. Wearing headphones, they listened to audio instructions as they performed. They walked around the large hall at the Goethe-Institut, interacting with props and reciting their lines in Chinese.