Eighteen Lives 《祖宗十八代》is a theatre play, written by Zongxi Li and dapted by Fini Liu, presented by Do Theatre.
★★★★ The Age
★★★★★ Theatre Matters
★★★★★ It’s On The House
A haunting, poetic journey into the shadows of rebirth and the inescapable weight of destiny.
Three performers travel through six eras of Chinese history, from ancient dynasties to modern-day Melbourne, where past and present lives overlap in unexpected, hilarious, and heartbreaking ways.
Blending physical theatre, bilingual dialogue, and absurd humour, Eighteen Lives explores reincarnation, identity, and desire — how we love, lose, and find each other, over and over again.
Performed in Mandarin with English open captions.
No prior knowledge of Chinese history required, just curiosity, and an open heart.
Content Warning
Language – mild language, Strobe lighting, Sudden loud noises
Violence, Staged Violence, Use of Replica Weapons. Recommended for ages 10+