A Disastrous Stage Debut Ends With Refund Demands

A film and television actress has come under fire after making her stage debut.

Chinese actress Zhou Dongyu recently acted in her first play, Wencheng, a theatrical adaptation of a novel by Chinese writer Yu Hua. The controversy emerged following the production’s premiere on June 17 at the Aranya Theater Festival, where Zhou was accused by audience members of being inadequately prepared for the performance.

According to attendees, she appeared to rely heavily on a teleprompter throughout much of the show, rarely looking away from it during the opening scenes. As the performance progressed, she was reportedly seen holding a printed script and reading directly from the pages.

She made multiple errors and, during one moment on stage, accidentally delivered the wrong dialogue before saying, “Oh no, I said the wrong line,” and then laughing it off. The incident triggered widespread online criticism, with some audience members requesting refunds for tickets priced between 480 yuan and 1,280 yuan (approximately $70 USD to $188 USD).

Questions about the show’s level of preparation intensified during the second half of the performance, when director Chen Ming Hao and lead actor Duan Yi Hong reportedly appeared on stage carrying scripts and reading their lines. Their actions led some audience members to wonder whether the play had been properly rehearsed. Critics were particularly harsh, with some describing the production as little more than a “dress rehearsal with makeup” where as many as 50 mistakes were made.

Chen, however, defended the creative approach, stating that the cast had never been required to memorize their dialogue. He maintained that the decision was intentional and aligned with an experimental style of theatre. Even so, disgruntled audience members have reportedly requested refunds and ranted about the show online.