Eighteen Lives 《祖宗十八代》

Eighteen Lives 《祖宗十八代》

Eighteen Lives 《祖宗十八代》 written by Zongxi Li and dapted by Fini Liu.

It is a darkly funny, poetic comedy about the people we keep meeting — again and again, across centuries, across lives.

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 Performed in Mandarin with English open captions.
No prior knowledge of Chinese history required — just curiosity, and an open heart.

Performance Information

Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2026

24 March-4 April 2026

Wed-Sat 7:30pm (81 mins, no interval)

Saturdays 2:30pm (81 mins, no interval)

Explosives Factory Rear Laneway, 67 Inkerman Street, St Kilda

This work has been supported by Theatre Works

Content Warning

Recommended for ages 10+

Language – mild language, Strobe lighting, Sudden loud noises

Violence, Staged Violence, Use of Replica Weapons.

Tickets

CAST

  • Fini Liu

    Fini is also the director of the Show

  • Tony Zhang

  • Yuan Lu

We do theatre together

Producer: Sally Chen

Director: Fini Liu

Cast: Fini Liu , Yuan Lu, Tony Zhang

Production Manager: Yuqing Xia

Stage Manager & Sound Design: Alex Zhou Sound Assistant : Yanjun Chen

Sets Design & Lighting Design: Zena Wang

Music design: Wenxin Lou Costume Design: Yiwei Ju

Dramaturg: Yuchen Yao Language consultant: Xiaohui Ma

Camerman: Yufan Chen; Jack Yu; Shixin Wang

Marketing: Shixin Wang; Jiamuzi Gao; Yi Chu

Translation & Subtitle : Xingbang Dai ; Jack Yu

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