Comedian Donnie Fan Talks New Filmed Comedy Special and More

Over the past few years, comedian Donnie Fan has been making waves in Beijing's comedy and theater scenes, co-founding the comedy club the Comedy Citadel, embarking on multiple comedy tours across China and worldwide, and even writing and directing two plays. 

It looks like there's no stopping this powerhouse, and 2025 promises to be no exception. He's organizing a new filmed comedy special, Where Are You From, which will take place on Apr 25, and also has a new play in the works. We caught up with Fan to find out more about what exciting projects 2025 has in store. 

It’s been a while since we caught up with you! What have you been up to this past year?
2024 was a wild one! I had just wrapped up my last world tour when Comedy Citadel was still finding its footing. We finally moved into a permanent venue, which was a major milestone. My original play The Heart Collector, finished a three-month run, I went on a Southeast Asian comedy tour, and I directed multiple children’s theater productions. It was a year of deep creative fulfillment and hitting personal landmarks I’d been chasing for a long time.

You have a new filmed comedy special later this month – can you tell us more about it?
This is the big one. We had previously filmed a special for a major online platform (can’t name it just yet), but due to the shifting landscape around comedy in the past few years, that project got paused. With so much growth from our comics, we recently reconnected with the platform – and instead of reviving the original project, the decision was made to create something entirely new. This special will be our chance to showcase the incredible talent coming out of mainland China to an international audience. We’re bringing our absolute best.

How does this differ from your previous filmed comedy special?
The biggest difference is in structure. The earlier special was designed as a series of individual headline sets. This one is more cohesive – it’ll run like a tight 90-minute comedy showcase, similar to what you’d see on Comedy Central. Comics will come on and off every ten minutes, so there’s a high-energy and dynamic pacing to it. It’s fast, funny, and full of variety.

You’re also starting new comedy classes soon – can you tell us more about those and how people can sign up?
Absolutely. At Comedy Citadel, we run quarterly eight-week bootcamps designed to help people find their comedic voice. It’s not just about writing punchlines – it’s about understanding rhythm, vulnerability, and presence. The bootcamp is a supportive and high-energy space for new and emerging comics. Participants not only get fast-tracked into the scene, but they also build community. Comedy can be isolating at first – but through our program, students grow together and support one another both on and off stage. Anyone interested can reach out to us directly on WeChat: CHENGBAOXIJU.

You’re currently directing a new production of ART and working on your own play – tell us more.
Yes! I’m currently directing a three-woman adaptation of Yasmina Reza’s ART, which we expect to debut in June – pending final licensing. It’s been an amazing challenge to reinterpret a classic for a new format and cast.

After that, I’ll be stepping back on stage in a new play I’ve written, inspired by Goethe’s The Sorrows of Young Werther. It’s a personal project – an experimental multiverse twist on the original that connects my own experiences with Goethe’s emotional intensity. I’m blending tragedy, dark comedy, and some surreal moments to bring something fresh and meaningful to our audience here.

Comedy Citadel is turning three this year! How does that feel?
It’s surreal. Comedy Citadel is my first experience as a co-owner, and it’s been a wild ride of learning and adapting. We’ve navigated Beijing’s constantly shifting entertainment scene, an ever-changing audience base, and the revolving door of talent that comes with the territory. But we’ve grown from hosting one showcase a month to three open mics a week and one to two big shows every weekend. The talent coming through now is incredible, and 2025 is shaping up to be our biggest year yet.

And there are some big names on the way too, right?
Right on cue – yes! Joe Wong is making a long-awaited return to Beijing this summer, and we’re thrilled to be producing the first Comedy Citadel-hosted show for him. Kavin Jay is back in June. In May, we’re bringing in a comedian-magician named Jeffrey Wang who’s been featured on Penn & Teller: Fool Us.

And the big one – this fall, Comedy Citadel is sponsoring a tour for viral comedian and rapper Bernice Ye. Her work on TikTok and Instagram has been blowing up, and we’re excited to bring her across China for her first major tour. And yes, we’re expecting even more names to be added soon – so stay tuned.

The filmed comedy special Where Are You From will be taking place on Apr 25 at 7pm and 9pm at JinShang Yuan. Tickets are RMB 100-150 and can be purchased by scanning the QR code in the poster above. 

JinShang Yuan
20, Xinyuan Lixi, Xindong Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区新东路新源里西20号

READ: Three Things for the Week Ahead in Beijing (Apr 14-20)

Images: courtesy of Donnie Fan