Teahouse ：The Ritualization of National Identity in Theatre Performance.

Abstract

This study analyzes Lao She’s Teahouse as a representation of the evolving Chinese national identity through ritual and ritualized spaces in theatre performance. The study utilizes Richard Schechner’s performance theory to highlight the interaction between cultural rituals, performance components, and identity formation within China’s historical and socio-political contexts, effectively demonstrating the resilience and vulnerability of national identity amid social and political transformations. Teahouse serves as a symbol of cultural continuity and a center of resistance, where traditional traditions and communal activities illustrate the evolution of national identity throughout time. This study elucidates how modern Chinese drama can reinforce national identity, and navigate historical memory. This study suggests that integrating ritual components into theatre performance can strengthen national identity, create a connection between historical continuity and contemporary culture, and elevate the function of Chinese drama as a vehicle for cultural communication within the "Community of human destiny."