- 【第九十八期】A Woman’s Life: 互动式戏剧工作坊
【活动时间地点&预订方式 | Event Time, Location & Reservation Method】
2025年2月9日星期日 13:30 – 17:00 | Sun, 9 Feb 2025 13:30 – 17:00 BST
Barons Court Theatre, 28a Comeragh Rd, London W14 9HR
https://www.baronscourttheatre.com/culturesalon
【写在前面 | Foreword】
大家新年快乐！
24年11月的时候，我被”A Women’s Life”这个名字吸引，跑去伦敦一个可爱的剧院里看了这部由一位中国导演和制作人创作的舞台剧。故事分为三个章节，以一位名叫Xiaoxiao的女性为主角，也是这部剧唯一的演员，探索了一个普通女性从青春期到步入职场、结婚、生育到更年期经历的成长、挑战和挣扎，刻画了她在面对社会期待、性别角色与个人梦想之间的复杂关系。女性议题在各种领域的表达其实并不少见，尤其在伦敦，但这个主要由来自中国的女性组成的创作团队还是带给了我很多来自身份与文化的“会心一笑”时刻。所以我邀请了A Women’s Life主创团队的成员徐晓雯（导演、制作人）和李斯嘉（制作人），来做一场沉浸互动式的戏剧workshop，没有任何特别要求哦，像我这种喜剧门外汉也被允许参加了，所以大家不要有任何压力。另外，这并不是一个纯女性的主题沙龙，男性朋友们也非常欢迎参加！Be yourself, and enjoy every moment of it! 这也是给自己和给大家的新年祝福。❤️。
乐人
Happy New Year, everyone!
Back in November 2024, I was drawn to a play titled A Women’s Life and went to a lovely theater in London to see this stage production created by a Chinese director and producer. The story is divided into three chapters, centering on a woman named Xiaoxiao, who is also the play’s sole actor. It explores the growth, challenges, and struggles of an ordinary woman as she journeys through adolescence, entering the workforce, marriage, motherhood, and menopause. The play portrays the complex relationship between societal expectations, gender roles, and personal dreams.
Expressions of women’s issues aren’t uncommon across various fields, especially in London. However, this production, mainly created by a team of women from China, gave me many moments of cultural and personal resonance. Therefore, I’ve invited members of the creative team of A Women’s Life — Xu Xiaowen (director and producer) and Li Sijia (producer) — to host an immersive, interactive theater workshop. There are no special requirements to join; even someone like me, a complete outsider to drama and theater, was allowed to participate. So, don’t feel any pressure!
Additionally, this isn’t solely a women’s discussion event; male friends are also warmly welcomed to join! Be yourself and enjoy every moment of it! This is also my New Year’s blessing to everyone — and to myself!
Leren
【内容简介 | Summary】
你是否曾想过，性别、社会期待与个人梦想如何交织在一起塑造我们的生命？互动式戏剧沙龙《A Women’s Life》将带大家走进Xiaoxiao的世界，体验她从青春期到更年期的成长与蜕变，感受她在追求独立与面对传统束缚之间的挣扎与反思。
A Woman’s Life 深入探索了一位女性受困于人生不同阶段的“格子”当中，从青春期到中年再到更年期的复杂历程。剧中探讨了女人的多重身份与经历，展现了女性在成长过程中遇到的挑战与胜利，故事的背景交织着记忆、时间、身份，传统的亚裔风俗文化与社会压力。
如果你喜欢戏剧、沉浸式演出，或者热衷于挖掘创作的源头，理解表演背后的故事，以及关心女性议题、心理健康和那些女性易被忽略的小事，这次工作坊就是为你准备的！
参与工作坊，你将收获：
* 导演与团队的创作心得分享：了解剧作背后的心路历程。
* 剧本片段围读与角色体验：感受角色的生命，尝试用表演讲述自己的故事
* 肢体游戏与表演训练：通过互动与练习，释放身体语言的潜能
* 小组创作与故事分享：在团队中碰撞灵感，共同打造一个属于你的原创片段
How do gender, societal expectations, and personal dreams intertwine to shape our lives?
In 2024, director and producer Xiaowen Xu, alongside producer Sijia Li, presented their original stage production, A Woman’s Life, at the Canada Water Theatre. This intimate and evocative play follows the journey of Xiaoxiao, its sole performer, as she navigates the growth, challenges, and struggles of an ordinary woman through life’s pivotal stages—from adolescence to career, marriage, motherhood, and menopause. Through the metaphor of “life’s grids,” the play poignantly captures the complexities of each phase. Against a backdrop of memory, time, identity, and the weight of traditional Asian gender norms, the production weaves a narrative rich in cultural and emotional resonance.
The upcoming interactive theatre salon A Woman’s Life welcomes audiences of all genders and from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds to step into Xiaoxiao’s world. Journey through her growth and transformation, from adolescence to menopause, and immerse yourself in her struggles and reflections as she navigates the pursuit of independence while contending with traditional constraints. This performance explores the multifaceted identities and experiences of women, providing profound insights into the intricate connections between memory, identity, and culture.
If you’re passionate about theatre, immersive performances, or delving into the creative process, this workshop is perfect for you. Discover the stories behind the production, explore themes such as women’s issues, mental health, and the often-overlooked details of everyday life, and
connect with others through the transformative power of storytelling.What You’ll Experience in the Workshop:
– Insights from the Creative Team: Gain behind-the-scenes knowledge from the director and team as they share their creative journey and the inspiration behind the play.
– Script Reading and Character Exploration: Dive into selected scenes, embody the characters, and use performance to tell your own story.
– Body Language Exercises and Performance Training: Unleash the potential of your physical expression with engaging activities and hands-on practice.
– Collaborative Storytelling: Work alongside fellow participants to brainstorm and craft an original piece together.Whether you’re a theatre lover or deeply engaged in discussions around women’s issues, this workshop offers an inspiring and thought-provoking
artistic experience. Male participants are warmly welcomed too! Be yourself and enjoy every moment of it!
【主讲人简介 | About the Speaker】
徐晓雯
戏剧导演、演员和制作人。硕士毕业于伦敦大学金史密斯学院世界戏剧专业。作为导演参与过Barons Court组织的Sunday Fix。作为联合制作人，参与了《忏悔录：臭名昭著的卡利奥斯特罗伯爵的个人见证》的创作。徐晓雯曾在伦敦唐人街导演了一场以中国传统汉服为主题的大型沉浸式演出。此外，她执导的《夫人梦》于2024年1月在伦敦Camden的Etcetera剧院举行的首届女性剧作家戏剧节上演出，并获得了四星好评。该剧随后于同年8月参加了爱丁堡边缘艺术节。
徐晓雯曾与伦敦Si Lian画廊合作，导演了沉浸式戏剧作品《一个女人的一生》，2024年9月，她对该剧的剧本进行了改编，并在11月再次将这部沉浸式作品带回剧院舞台。作为演员，她拥有超过15年的儿童剧表演经验。她参与了多部国际戏剧制作，包括法国导演执导的先锋喜剧《加薪秘诀》，以及在中外合作的爱丁堡前沿戏剧展中上演的环境舞剧《桥》。
Xiaowen Xu
Theatre director, actor, and producer. She holds a master’s degree in World Theatre from Goldsmiths, University of London. As a director, she has participated in Sunday Fix organised by Barons Court. As a co-producer, she was involved in the creation of Confessions: The Personal Testimony of the Infamous Count Cagliostro. Xiaowen Xu also directed a large-scale immersive performance in London’s Chinatown, themed around traditional Chinese Hanfu attire.
Her production Lady’s Dream was performed at the inaugural Women Playwrights’ Theatre Festival at Etcetera Theatre in Camden, London, in January 2024, receiving a four-star review. The play subsequently participated in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August of the same year.
Xiaowen Xu collaborated with London’s Si Lian Gallery to direct the immersive theatrical piece A Woman’s Life. In September 2024, she adapted the script and brought this immersive production back to the theatre stage in November.
As an actor, she has over 15 years of experience in children’s theatre and has participated in numerous international theatre productions. These include the avant-garde comedy The Secret to Getting a Pay Raise directed by a French director and the environmental dance-drama The Bridge, performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as part of a Sino-foreign collaboration.
李斯嘉
戏剧制作人兼演员，拥有伦敦大学金史密斯学院音乐剧硕士学位。
2022年10月，她担任音乐剧《Before & After》的舞台经理。2023年1月，她制作了迷你剧《Someone》，随后于2023年9月制作了音乐剧《Miracle》。2024年5月，Sijia将全新改编版的《Miracle》带到了Peckham Fringe艺术节。最近，在2024年11月，她制作了沉浸式戏剧作品《一个女人的一生》。
作为演员，Sijia曾在南京出演话剧《倾城之恋》的女主角，并凭借该角色获得“水杉杯”比赛最佳女演员奖。她还参与了2019年南京金陵文化艺术节开幕式的表演。
Sijia Li
Theater producer and actor, holding a master’s degree in Musical Theatre from Goldsmiths, University of London.
In October 2022, she worked as the stage manager for the musical Before & After. In January 2023, she produced the mini-play Someone, followed by the production of the musical Miracle in September 2023. In May 2024, Sijia brought a newly adapted version of Miracle to the Peckham Fringe Arts Festival. Most recently, in November 2024, she produced the immersive theatrical piece A Woman’s Life.
As an actor, Sijia played the lead role in the stage play Love in a Fallen City in Nanjing, earning the Best Actress Award at the “Shuishan Cup” competition for her performance. She also participated in the opening performance of the 2019 Jinling Culture and Arts Festival in Nanjing.
