The Many Lives of Da Shan: Mark Rowswell on Chinese Poetry, Performing Live, and Staging Shawshank in Mandarin

About this episode

Mark Rowswell discusses his career in China, his poetry project, and adapting The Shawshank Redemption for a Chinese audience.

In this episode, we reconnect with an old friend of the podcast, Canadian performer Mark Rowswell—better known in China as Dashan, or “Big Mountain.” Mark reflects on his early career in China, where his remarkable fluency in Mandarin launched him from a young foreign newcomer into the world of xiangsheng (相声, crosstalk), and soon after into a highly sought-after TV host and cultural ambassador bridging East and West. He also shares insights into his latest creative project: a series of online videos featuring his recitations of classic Chinese poetry. What began during the pandemic with a relatively obscure Chu Ci (楚辞) poem that went viral has since grown to include well-known works by Li Bai and Su Shi, with Mark’s fresh approach—eschewing the traditional, formal style of langsong (朗诵) in favor of a more natural, conversational delivery—quickly gaining a wide audience. Over time, the project has grown increasingly ambitious, incorporating longer poems and rich musical collaborations, including performances with the Toronto and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestras. Finally, Mark offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at his role in adapting The Shawshank Redemption into a…

People in this episode

Host: Barbarians at the Gate

Guest: Mark Rowswell

Topics covered

• Chinese poetry
• performing arts
• cultural exchange
• xiangseng
• theater adaptation
• Mandarin language

Keywords

• Mark Rowswell
• Dashan
• Chinese poetry
• xiangsheng
• The Shawshank Redemption
• cultural ambassador
• Mandarin
• theater
• performing live

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra

Books & works: The Shawshank Redemption, Chu Ci

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