REVIEW: The Death of Hundun

The Death of Hundun ©️Peter, Wendy

Creative Team

Director: Wandi Liu
Producer: Qiaoran Li, Xiaoyu Wang
Playwright: Roccia Zhang, Wandi Liu
Performer: Wandi Liu
Executive Producer: Jiaxin Du
Co-Director: Yi Wang
Acting Coach: Yudun Wang
Dramaturg: Yi Wang
Artistic Supervisor: Jiawen Chen
Movement Director: Lettie Liu
Set Designer: Yixuan Wang
Lighting Designer and Operator: Baysalt
Composer, Sound Designer and Operator: Ganey Zhang
Marketing Manager and Assistant Producer: Rulin Ma
Stage Manager: Linger Wen
Photographer: Peter, Wendy

The Death of Hundun is inspired by the parable of the same name in the Zhuangzi, reimagined in a contemporary context. It tells the story of a woman living with bipolar disorder who repeatedly looks for something to hold on to in love, work and family, only to be hurt again and again as she tries to reach the happiness promised by society.

There is no doubt that the production presents its themes and emotions with great clarity. Across its four-part structure, the audience sees how the protagonist repeatedly tries to fit into the outside world and grasp the lifeline in front of her, only to become increasingly battered and bruised. Playwright Roccia Zhang and actress Wandi Liu bring a strong sense of emotional weight to this process. Wandi’s strong dance skills, precise physical control and expressive performance give a clear and powerful form to the protagonist’s otherwise inexpressible pain. At the same time, the script’s detailed psychological writing, its portrayal of the outside world and its imaginative use of metaphor make the gradual collapse of her inner order clearly visible. Director Wandi Liu brings the text, performances and stage rhythm together naturally, giving the production a clear emotional progression and gradually drawing the audience into the protagonist’s inner world.

Set design, props, lighting and sound also played an important role in telling the story. Set Designer Yixuan Wang keeps the stage relatively simple, using a small number of props in different ways across different scenes. As the protagonist’s state of mind changes, so do the position, arrangement and use of the props, gradually turning the stage into an extension of her inner world. Composer and Sound Designer Ganey Zhang and Lighting Designer Baysalt Gui take a similarly restrained approach, with sound and lighting carefully timed to support the character’s emotions and key scene transitions. These elements never overshadow the performance, but their changes at key moments heighten the tension, chaos and sense of oppression on stage, while working alongside the physical performance and text to build the emotional intensity of the piece. This approach works particularly well with the introspective nature of the piece, giving a story that largely takes place within the protagonist’s mind a physical form that the audience can experience directly.

One of the most striking aspects of the production is its use of physical expression. Under the direction of Movement Director Lettie Liu, the first half relies heavily on the protagonist’s physicality to convey emotion. Her movements are graceful yet powerful, and her strong physical control gives a visible form to otherwise abstract psychological states, quickly drawing the audience into her experience. By contrast, as the piece moves into its second half, physical expression becomes less prominent, with emotions and thoughts increasingly conveyed through dialogue. Towards the end, when the piece has already built up considerable emotional tension, slightly reducing the amount of dialogue and allowing the movement to carry more of the storytelling might give the audience more space to feel and interpret the moment for themselves, while also making the final emotional impact more direct.

All in all, it was a rare and memorable experience to see a production at the Camden Fringe that looks so closely at the inner world of its characters while exploring the particular anxieties around life and survival within an East Asian context. The promotional videos shared on social media and the leaflets handed out before the performance also matched the visual and emotional tone of the production, while offering useful background information and insight into its sources of inspiration. This consistency also reflects the work of producers Xiaoyu Wang and Qiaoran Li, alongside Marketing Manager and Assistant Producer Rulin Ma, in shaping how the production is presented beyond the stage. Ultimately, the production leaves the audience with more than a story about suffering. It also raises questions about how we understand ourselves and learn to live with the parts of life that cannot be explained.

For more information, please visit:

Camden Fringe Festival: https://camdenfringe.com/events/the-death-of-hundun/
Edinburgh Festival Fringe: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/the-death-of-hundun
Online Livestream (August 14): https://events.humanitix.com/death-of-hundun-livestreaming-3

★★★★

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