Play: Puppet

PUPPET is a one-act play inspired by real events in China, following Desponia Chen, a teen sent to a brutal reform school by her well-meaning but misguided mother. There, students endure control and dehumanization, symbolized by forced mask-wearing.

As Desponia begins to lose herself, she meets Mirium Zhao, a rebellious peer who challenges the system. Blending folklore—especially the Monkey King—with stark imagery, the play explores control, resistance, and the price of obedience.

Themes:
Authoritarian indoctrination
Identity loss and resistance
Family disconnect
The struggle for selfhood