THE BUS STOP

TRINITY UNIVERSITY'S FIRST PLAY OF 2026

Trinity University’s Department of Human Communication and Theatre presents its first show of 2026 with The Bus Stop, written by Gao Xingjian and translated by Shiao-Ling Yu. The play will run February 20–28 in the Stieren Theater. Admission is free, and seating is first-come, first-served.

Immediately following the matinee performance on Sunday, Feb. 22nd, stick around for a short talkback led by the show's student dramaturgs and director. This is your opportunity to engage directly with the cast and crew! Discuss topics like transcultural dramaturgy, the play's historical context of post-Maoist China, metatheatre and the "tripartite actor," ensemble-building, and more.

There will also be an open rehearsal featuring the understudy cast at 2:30pm on Saturday, Feb. 21st.

Set at a bus stop in a city suburb, The Bus Stop centers on a group of people waiting for a bus that never arrives. Often hilarious and sometimes profound, the characters’ interactions and personal revelations also serve as critiques of societal stagnation and the human condition. The play's absurdist elements and its critical perspective on social issues led to its ban in mainland China shortly after its premiere in 1983. Often compared to Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot, this thought-provoking work remains influential in the history of avant-garde theatre.

The lobby of the Ruth Taylor Theater Building will feature a display of German artist Michael Kruscha's photograph series Time Stands Still, a collection of images showing vacant bus stops from around the world.

The Bus Stop is directed by Dr. Chloë Rae Edmonson, with scenic design by Martha Peñaranda, costumes/hair/makeup by Kellie Grengs, lighting design by Carlos R. Nine, and technical direction by Nicholes Hernandez.