The actors
In Huichang, everyone seems to become part of the cast.
As dusk falls, the square fills with people. This is when the theater village feels most alive. Huichang is small enough that familiar faces quickly find one another, and conversations begin almost immediately.
Sometimes, the "celebrities" you run into are not the ones you expect.
There is, for instance, a 90-year-old local photographer who still walks the streets with a camera in hand. Spot a visitor, and he is quick to pull out his photos, proudly showing the images he has taken of the theater village over the years.
That is one kind of fame.
But during the festival, there is another kind, too. For a few days each year, the town fills with actors, directors and theater troupes from across China and around the world.
In Huichang, celebrity feels strangely unremarkable. You might share dinner with a famous actor or find yourself seated beside one during a performance.
Each year, Lai follows a local custom: setting out long Hakka banquet tables laden with local dishes for performers and guests. People raise glasses, exchange stories, and, when the mood strikes, break into a dance.
But the true protagonists of Huichang are its residents.
Last year, when Lai invited 60 actors from Greece to perform here, many were visiting China for the first time. Residents helped them find hotels and guided them through the town if they got lost.
"It's here that they really get to know what Chinese people are like," Lai says.
In Lai's view, it is that Hakka sincerity — straightforward and unpretentious — that has allowed the theater village to thrive.
Here, theater has no threshold. There is little distance between performers and audiences. Perhaps that is why performance feels so immediate, so real and so deeply shared.
If you go
Getting there: Huichang's theater village is easily accessible via Ganzhou Ruijin Airport, Ruijin Railway Station and Huichang North Railway Station, all about an hour's drive away.
Visitors can arrange a shuttle through the WeChat mini-program "Huichang Travel", with fares starting at around 70 yuan ($10) per person.
Where to stay: For the most convenient experience, stay at the Hotel Des Artistes, located within the theater village.
The hotel is especially popular with festivalgoers attending evening performances. Room rates typically range from 200 to 800 yuan per night.
Planning your visit: The theater festival is usually held in May or June, though dates vary each year. For the latest program and ticket information, visit the website (www.hctheatrevillage.com).
Tickets are also available at the visitor center on-site.
Beyond the stage: If you have time to explore the surrounding area, several attractions make rewarding day trips, including Hanxianyan Scenic Area, Hanxian Lake, Yangjiao Water Castle, and Dongtou She Ethnic Village.
