China bans Mongolian theatre production

Chinese authorities have banned a Mongolian theatre production by shutting down the power to the Ulaan Theatre in Hohhot, in the northern Inner Mongolia region, where the production was due to be staged.

In addition to shutting down power, Chinese authorities also blocked 130 production staff from entering the theatre and put the cast under constant surveillance.

Thousands of theatregoers who had purchased tickets to the performance were sent away without any valid reason. All this played out just 30 minutes before the first performance was set to begin. The production, titled “The Mongol Khan,” is scheduled to open at the London Coliseum next month.

“The production team of 130 members, including six British nationals, were expelled from the theatre building where £2 million [$3.8 million] worth of set and technical equipment was set up,” the Mongol Khan spokeswoman said, adding, “The production team was also banned from wearing traditional Mongolian dress in public.”

The latest ban is part of a growing trend of cultural suppression by the Chinese government. In recent years, Beijing has cracked down on Mongolian language, culture, and history. This is being done by China in an effort to assimilate the dwindling Mongolian population into the Han Chinese majority.

Ulaanbaatar has been careful to manage its relationship with its superpower neighbour and largest trading partner. The director of “The Mongol Khan,” Hero Baatar, has said that he is determined to bring the production to London, despite the the pushback in China.