THE Boxer Rebellion is remembered as a frightening episode in China’s history – but partisan Western reporting means we have a very one-sided view of the insurrection. An unusual solo show, Chinese Boxing, coming to Bath Theatre Royal’s Ustinov Studio from 27th to 29th January, gives the Chinese side of the story.

The play, written by and starring Mark Kitto, tackles one of the urgent questions of modern times: how will the West get along with China in the 21st century?

The show begins as a lecture to the East Somerset branch of the Royal Asiatic Society by Sir Claude MacDonald, ambassador to Peking (now Beijing) during the infamous Boxer Rebellion of 1900, when hundreds of foreign diplomats were besieged in the city.

Sir Claude wants to discuss “China and the West today”, but he starts by taking the audience back to Peking in 1900, to the Imperial Palace, where they (the audience) are mistaken for a foreign delegation. The Chinese side of the story is not straightforward and will challenge your view of the past and the present.

As well as being a writer and actor, Mark Kitto is a respected China expert. He lived and worked in China for 18 years, has written two best-selling memoirs on China, was Prospect Magazine’s China columnist and performed with the Shanghai People’s Arts Theatre. His latest novel, China Running Dog was released in March 2025.

Recently he was on stage at in Bath, in Hedda at the Ustinov Studio, and in the main house, as part of the 2025 Ralph Fiennes Season in Small Hotel.

The performance is followed by a question and answer session about China and Britain today.

On Wednesday 28th January, Mark Kitto will also give a talk about his new novel, the story of two young Brits struggling to live and survive in Shanghai in the 21st century. Tickets for this event are half price when booked together with Chinese Boxing.