Detained journalist Cheng Lei turns ordeal into international theatre tour

The story of Cheng Lei's return to the stage, through her powerful theatre production '1154 Days', is a profound testament to resilience and the human spirit's capacity to transform even the most harrowing experiences into art. Having endured over three years of wrongful detention in China, Lei's journey from a 'nerd' too scared to audition for a school play to a playwright and performer sharing her story on an international stage is nothing short of remarkable.

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I was a nerd, I was fugly. My friends and I called ourselves the underdogs. We were a motley crew and I was too scared, too chicken shit, to go to that audition.

'1154 Days' is more than just a recounting of her time in detention; it's an exploration of what it means to face life when stripped of everything. Lei describes the creation of the play as an 'exercise in emancipation,' a way to reclaim her narrative and assert her freedom by 'throwing herself at life in a much more daring way.' This artistic endeavor serves as a powerful tool to shed light on the grim realities of 'hostage diplomacy' and the systemic abuses of power, particularly the use of China's Residential Surveillance at a Designated Location (RSDL) system.

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It’s about facing life when everything has been stripped away, and making the show has itself been an exercise in emancipation.

For Australians, Cheng Lei's story is a stark reminder of the complex and often perilous relationship between China and its citizens, as well as foreign nationals. While her book and a Sky News documentary have already brought aspects of her ordeal to light, the theatre production offers a unique, visceral way to connect with her experience. Lei's determination to tour the play internationally underscores her commitment to not only seeking justice for herself but also to advocating for others who may be caught in similar political predicaments, challenging the Chinese government's propaganda and demanding a more transparent global discourse on human rights.

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A part of doing justice to freedom is to throw myself at life in a much more daring way, compared to if I hadn’t gone through this terrible experience.