''The Other Shore'' (; untoned ''Bi An''; previously translated ''The Other Side'') is a play by the Chinese writer

Gao Xingjian Gao Xingjian (高行健 in Chinese - born January 4, 1940) is a Chinese émigré and later French naturalized novelist, playwright, critic, painter, photographer, film director, and translator who in 2000 was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature " ...

. It was first published into English in 1997 and translated again in 1999. The intended premiere of ''The Other Shore'' under the direction of Lin Zhaohua at the

Beijing People's Art Theatre Beijing People's Art Theatre (北京人民艺术剧院/北京人民藝術劇院) is a theatre company that was founded in June 1952 by drama master Cao Yu. Since its founding, the company has produced nearly 300 dramas of different styles, from ...

had its production shut down by the Chinese government before it reached performances.Gao, Xingjian. ''The Other Shore: Plays by Gao Xingjian''. Trans. Gilbert C. F. Fong. Hong Kong: Chinese University Press, 2000. The playwright proceeded to direct productions of the play at the Taiwan National College of Art in 1990 and at the

Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) (Chinese: 香港演藝學院) is a provider of tertiary education in Hong Kong. Located near the north coast of Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island, the main campus also functions as a venue for pe ...

in 1995.

Interpretation

Although ''The Other Shore'' has been performed internationally, much of the meaning of the play is dependent on specifically Chinese cultural concepts. The title is a literary way of saying "the opposite bank of a river", but also refers to an element of

Buddhism Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gra ...

known as '' paramita'' (the "perfection" of a virtue), this "other shore" representing a state of enlightenment which everyone wants to reach. However, Gao's philosophy specifically inverts this hopeful worldview by proclaiming in his opening stage directions that the action takes place on "the non-existent other shore". The illusion of enlightenment is not to be reached by play's end (or at least, not the enlightenment that was sought).

Performance space

''The Other Shore'' is also notable for its performance space requirements. Most likely influenced by the French Avant Garde movement, with which Gao was familiar, the playscript states that:

Reception

Attending the 2003 Sons of Beckett Theatre Company performance directed by Jerry Wienckowski, Les Spindle praised "Xingjian's timelessly compelling vision, a plea for human liberty and peace. ..Though the scenes seldom progress in a logical fashion, the cumulative impact is alternately chilling and humorous. The dysfunctional interactions suggest the ill effects of political anarchy and the equally treacherous prospect of inefficient or self-serving rulers."

Translations

* 1997: as ''The Other Side: A Contemporary Drama Without Acts'', tr. by

Jo Riley Josephine Riley is a British writer, translator, theatre actor, and schoolteacher. Dr. Riley has written and translated several books about theatre arts, especially Chinese theatre. She currently teaches film and drama at Munich International Sc ...

, in ''An Oxford Anthology of Contemporary Chinese Drama'', 1997, * 1999: as ''The Other Shore'', tr. by Gilbert Chee Fun Fong, in ''The Other Shore: Plays by Gao Xingjian'', 1999,

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Other Shore, The 1986 plays Plays by Gao Xingjian