Another major highlight will be Lai's Dreamwalk, an environmental theater piece set in one of Huichang's ancient mansions. Drawing inspiration from Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) playwright Tang Xianzu's classic The Peony Pavilion, one of China's most treasured works, Lai's production will explore the intersection of history, literature and the modern world. Through this work, Lai hopes to spark a dialogue between ancient Chinese literary traditions and contemporary theater practices.
"In this performance, the past isn't just a backdrop. It's a living, breathing entity that engages with the present," Lai says. "It's a way of showing how theater can speak across centuries, connecting us to our cultural roots while moving us forward."
The festival will also celebrate nostalgia and cultural memory, particularly through the 40th anniversary of Lai's play, the classic Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land. First performed in 1986 and still touring worldwide, this iconic work centers around themes of love, homesickness and the emotional and cultural connections that tie people to their homeland.
The play is a tragicomedy following the poignant love story between Yun Zhifan and Jiang Binliu, who are separated and lose contact during the War of Liberation (1946-49). Then, unbeknownst to each other, both move from the Chinese mainland to Taiwan.
"I've always said that Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land is a love letter to my hometown," Lai says. "By bringing it back to Huichang, I feel like we're completing a circle, honoring the past, and acknowledging how much this place has shaped me as an artist."
This year's festival will feature multiple versions of the play, including River/Cloud, featuring Taiwan actor Chang Chen playing the role of Jiang.
According to Chang, the decision to take on this role felt almost like a coincidence. He mentions that his grandfather passed away in 2004, and he didn't really have many memories of their conversations. "But it's strange — after he passed, I kept dreaming about him. Even though he never spoke to me in the dreams, I often saw his face. So, playing Jiang Binliu feels like a gift. I get to portray a character from the same place as my grandfather," says Chang, 49, whose grandfather was born in Changchun, Jilin province, like Jiang, and later moved to Taiwan.
"When I first visited Changchun in my 20s, I didn't think too much about the significance. But I remember the old architecture around a beautiful roundabout. It was cold, but I felt so happy to be there, and I could sense the importance of the place. Coming back to act as Jiang Binliu, it feels like destiny has brought me here," he adds.
He also mentions that he talked with King Shih-chieh, the veteran actor who portrayed Jiang when the play was first staged.
"He told me that he also related the role to his own family members, like his father and his uncle, who moved to Taiwan from the Chinese mainland, which made the role more meaningful to him," says Chang.
While the Huichang Theatre Season is rooted in tradition, it is also an incubator for cutting-edge experimental work. One such performance is Slay, directed by actress Hao Lei. Using minimalist staging and intense physical performance, the production delves into the psychological and spiritual crises of its characters.
Since its inception in January 2024, the festival has undergone a dramatic transformation. Once a quiet, rural county, Huichang is now a vibrant cultural hub. In addition to the festival, the place is home to a theater academy, which trains the next generation of theater technicians and offers acting workshops for amateur theater lovers, as well as a resident troupe that performs Lai's classic works year-round.
