Cheng Lei’s play evokes the claustrophobia of constant surveillance
Cheng Lei's play '1154 Days' explores the themes of wrongful incarceration and state surveillance. The one-woman performance encapsulates her harrowing experience of being imprisoned in China for nearly three years. Through a blend of humor and stark reality, the play highlights the injustices faced by those wrongfully detained worldwide.
- ▪Cheng Lei was apprehended by Chinese state security for sending a text to a journalist just before a media embargo.
- ▪During her imprisonment, she spent only 10 hours in the sun each year and was unable to hear her children's voices for years.
- ▪The play allows audiences to reflect on the broader implications of wrongful incarceration and state surveillance.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","dateModified":"2026-05-29T03:14:17Z","datePublished":"2026-05-29T03:14:07Z","description":"1154 Days paints a stark picture of those inhumanely incarcerated without cause in prisons around the world.","headline":"Cheng Lei’s play evokes the claustrophobia of constant surveillance","keywords":"Melbourne live reviews, Just in, Arts, For subscribers, See & Do, What’s on, Performing arts, Review, Review, Victoria, Live music, Live music","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Sonia Nair","jobTitle":"Sonia Nair","url":"/by/sonia-nair-p536r4"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Jessica Nicholas","jobTitle":"Jessica…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Sydney Morning Herald.