Stan Lai (Lai Shengchuan)

Artistic Director/Playwright/Director

"The major contemporary Asian playwright of his time, perhaps of all time."
-- Robert Brustein

Born in the U.S. in 1954 and raised in America and Taiwan, Lai began his creative career in Taiwan in 1984. His works are now performed all over China and the Chinese speaking world, as well as in the West. His prolific output of over 40 produced original full-length plays include works that are acknowledged as masterworks of the contemporary Chinese language theatre: That Evening, We Performed Crosstalk (1985, in collaboration with Lee Li-chun and Li Kuo-hsiu) is credited with revitalizing the dying art of crosstalk (xiangsheng) in Taiwan. Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land (1986) has been called by the New York Times as "the most popular contemporary play in China." The Village (2008) has been described by the Beijing News as "the pinnacle of our era of theatre." His epic 8 hour A Dream Like A Dream (2000) has been called by China Daily as "possibly the greatest Chinese-language play since time immemorial." Ago (2019) has been hailed as “a new kind of theater, one equipped to respond to the pressures of the 21st century.” (Shannon Jackson)

In 2013, Lai co-founded the Wuzhen Theatre Festival, which has quickly become one of the top festivals in China, and in Asia. In 2015, he founded Theatre Above, a 699-seat venue in Shanghai dedicated to the performance of his works. In 2024 he initiated the Huichang Theatre Village in Huichang, Jiangxi Province, his father's hometown, in an attempt to bring theatre and the arts to a small town in China. Since its inauguration, luminaries who have visited and performed include the late Robert Wilson, Robert Lepage, and the National Theatre of Greece which performed in front of Lai's ancestral house.

Lai's work in the West includes Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (2015), the opera Dream of the Red Chamber at the San Francisco Opera (2016), his immersive piece Nightwalk in the Chinese Garden at the Huntington Library and Gardens (2018) in Los Angeles, and a workshop production of AGO at the University of California, Berkeley (2019). Many of his plays have toured internationally in Mandarin Chinese to packed houses in Chinese communities.

Lai has also written and directed two feature films, The Peach Blossom Land (1992) and The Red Lotus Society (1994), the former which received top prizes at the Tokyo, Berlin, and Singapore international film festivals. He is also an acclaimed opera director and event director (Deaflympics Opening Ceremony, 2009). His awards include Taiwan's National Arts Award (1988, 2001), and a Star on the Walk of Fame at the Sibiu International Theatre Festival (2019). His two-year stint as television writer-director-producer-show runner in the 1990s produced the revolutionary improvised daily sit-com All in this Family are Human, which he wrote and directed 250 episodes.

2025 celebrates Lai's theatre group Performance Workshop's 40th anniversary. Performances celebrating this milestone year include his masterworks A Dream Like a Dream, The Village, Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land and Ago in China and Taiwan, as well as new works Flower in the Mirror, Moon in the Water and Descent in Shanghai and Taipei.

Lai holds a Ph.D in Dramatic Art from U.C. Berkeley, and has taught extensively at the Taipei National University of the Arts, and at Berkeley and Stanford. His book CreativitRy (Anthem Press, 2025) is the English version of his Chinese work which has sold over a million copies, endorsed by a range of luminaries from Jack Ma to Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. 12 of his plays have been published in his own English translations in Selected Plays of Stan Lai (3 vols., Edited by Lissa Tyler Renaud, University of Michigan Press, 2022). Numerous Chinese editions have been published since 1986, including a 4 volume set of earlier 16 plays in 1999 (Taipei, Yuanliu) and  a recent 16 volume set (Beijing, Citic Press). He is also the translator of numerous plays as well as Buddhist texts.

Lai is currently Artistic Director of Performance Workshop, Taiwan, Theatre Above, Shanghai, Co-founder and Festival Director of the Wuzhen Theatre Festival, China, and Artistic Founder, Huichang Theatre Village. He has been married to Nai-chu Ding, who has produced most of his work, since 1978. They have two daughters and three grandchildren.

Plays

Plays, Writer and Director:

1. We All Grew Up This Way, performed by National Institute of the Arts, Taiwan, premiere Jan 1984, Tien Educational Center, Taipei.
2. Plucking Stars, performed by Lan Ling Theatre Group, premiere March 1984, Taipei Social-Educational Hall.
3. The Passer By, performed by National Institute of the Arts, premiere June 1984, National Arts Hall, Taipei.
4. That Evening, We Performed Xiangsheng, performed by Performance Workshop, premiere March 1985, National Arts Hall, Taipei; revived for Taiwan and international tour, 1993.
5. Bach Variations, performed by National Institute of the Arts, premiere June 1985, Taipei Social-Educational Hall.
6. Secret Love In Peach Blossom Land,performed by Performance Workshop, premiere March 1986, National Arts Hall, Taipei; various revivals and international tours, 1991, 1999, 2006, 2013, 2016, 2025. Adapted for Taiwanese Opera performance 2006; Cantonese version, Hong Kong 2007; Yueju Opera version 2010, Hangzhou, China, English version at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, 2015. All above versions directed by Stan Lai.
7. Pastorale, performed by National Institute of the Arts, premiere June 1986, Taipei Social-Educational Hall.
8. Circle Story, performed by Performance Workshop, premiere March 1987, National Arts Hall, Taipei. Revived 2017 (Shanghai), 2024 (Taipei).
9. Journey to the West, contemporary opera, in collaboration with the National Theater, Taiwan, premiere Dec 1987, National Theater.
10. The Island and the Other Shore, performed by Performance Workshop, premiere May 1989, Taipei Social-Educational Hall; international tour 1990.
11. Look Who's Cross-talking Tonight? performed by Performance Workshop, premiere Sept 1989, National Arts Hall, Taipei; international tour, 1989-90. Revival 2020, National Theatre, Taipei.
12. Strange Tales from Taiwan, performed by Performance Workshop, premiere Feb 1991, National Arts Center, Taipei.
13. Red Sky, performed by Performance Workshop, premiere Sept 1994, National Theater, Taipei; international tour,1994. New production for the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, 1998; new production for historical first China/Taiwan joint production, Beijing, 1998-99.
14. The Complete History of Chinese Thought, Crosstalk Version, performed by Performance Workshop, premiere Aug 1997, National Theatre, Taipei.
15. Open The Door, Sir! One-act play performed by Performance Workshop, premiere Hong Kong, Jan 1998, at the invitation of the Hong Kong Arts Centre. Revived 2000.
16. I Me He Him, performed by Performance Workshop, premiere Apr 1998, Novell Hall, Taipei; 2nd Chinese Theatre Festival, Hong Kong 1998.
17. Menage a 13, performed by Performance Workshop, premiere Apr 1999, Novell Hall, Taipei. Revivals 2012 (Beijing), 2022 (Shanghai).
18. Lear and the Thirty-seven-fold Path of a Bodhisattva, One-act play performed by Performance Workshop, premiere Kwai Ching Theatre, Hong Kong, March 2000, as part of the Experimental Shakespeare festival. Performed in Taipei, 2001.
19. A Dream Like A Dream, English workshop production performed by the Center for Theater Arts, University of California, Berkeley, Feb 2000. Full eight hour version performed by National Institute of the Arts, Taiwan, premiere May 2000, National Institute of the Arts' Theatre, Taipei. Hong Kong production performed by Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Center, 2002. Taiwan production: performed by Performance Workshop in collaboration with Taipei National University of the Arts, at the National Theatre, Taipei 2005. Beijing version 2013 and on tour in China. Wuzhen Theatre Festival inaugural opening performance 2013. New Hong Kong version by Hong Kong Repertory Theatre at Freespace, West Kowloon, 2019. Theatre Above version, 2022.
20. Millennium Teahouse, performed by Performance Workshop, premiere Dec 2000, National Theatre, Taipei. Beijing production 2002. Portion chosen for performance at CCTV's annual Chinese New Year gala, 2002. Theatre Above version 2017.
21. Singapore Impromptu, One-act play created in memory of Kuo Pao Kun, with Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, premiere Nov 2002, Esplanade Studio Theatre, Singapore.
22. Sand and a Distant Star, performed by Performance Workshop, premiere May 2003, National Theatre, Taipei. Theatre Above version 2015.
23. Mumble Jumble, performed by Performance Workshop, premiere Nov 2003, National Theatre, Taipei. Theatre Above version 2015.
24. Total Woman, performed by Performance Workshop, premiere Jan 2005, Metropolitan Hall, Taipei. Singapore Esplanade performances 2005. Beijing production 2007.
25. Shanghai Story, workshop production created through collaboration with the Shanghai Theatre Academy, premiere Oct 2005, New Space, Shanghai.
26. Stories for the Dead, created through collaboration with the Institute for Diversity in the Arts, Stanford University, premiere March 2006, Roble Studio Theatre, Stanford University. In English.
27. Like Shadows, performed by Performance Workshop, premiere Dec 2007, National Theatre, Taipei.
28. Light Years, premiere Sept 2008, Shenzhen Grand Theatre, Shenzhen, China. Taiwan tour 2009.
29. The Village, performed by Performance Workshop, premiere Dec 2008, National Theatre, Taipei. Theatre Above version, 2020.
30. Writing in Water, performed by Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, premiere March 2009, Arts Centre, Hong Kong. Happiness Lessons, (based on Writing in Water) performed by Performance Workshop, premiere July 2010, National Theatre, Taipei. Theatre Above version 2016.
31. Crosstalk Travelers,performed by Performance Workshop, premiere March 2011, National Theatre, Taipei. China version, 2014. Theatre Above version 2018.
32. Dreamers, (writer and song lyrics writer) rock musical to commemorate the Centennial of the Republic of China, premiere Oct 2011, Taichung.
33. The Bridge, workshop production created through collaboration with the Shanghai Theatre Academy, premiere Dec 2012, Shanghai.
34. Dream Walk, a one-act site specific immersive play performed in an old estate in Wuzhen, China, unannounced at the 2nd Wuzhen Theatre Festival, premiere Nov 6, 2014.
35. The Blue Horse, children’s play, performed by Theatre Above, Shanghai, premiere Aug 3, 2016. Taiwan version 2019, Taipei Metropolitan Stage.
36. The Concealed Treasure, Theatre Above, premiere 2018. Taiwan version 2023, Taipei Performing Arts Center.
37. The Whale Library, premiere Theatre Above, 2018.
38. Nightwalk in the Chinese Garden, a joint production of the Huntington Library, Galleries, and Botanical Gardens, and CALARTS Center for New Performance, Huntington Chinese Garden, 2018.
39. AGO, Department of Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies, University of California, Berkeley, workshop performances at Hearst Gym, 2019. Chinese world premiere, Theatre Above, 2019.
40. One One Zero Eight, performed by Theatre Above, premiere 2019. Theatre Above version, 2024.
41. River/Cloud, performed by Performance Workshop, 2021, National Theatre, Taipei.
42. The Long, Narrow Passageway, site-specific performance in the Hongchang Alleyway and Shen Family Teahouse, Wuzhen Theatre Festival, 2023.
43. Flower in the Mirror, Moon in the Water, Huichang Theatre Village, 2024. Theatre Above version premiere Sept. 29, 2025.
44. Descent, performed by Performance Workshop, premiere Dec 2025, Taipei Performing Arts Center.

Plays, Director:

1. Footfalls: Beckett in the Ancient Chinese Garden, 6 plays by Samuel Beckett, translated by Stan Lai, performed by National Institute of the Arts, Taiwan, 1988. Chinese-language premieres of Play, Footfalls, Ohio Impromptu, What Where, Come and Go. Performed in traditional garden setting in the China Movie Studio, Taipei. Huichang Theatre Village version, 2025. Theatre Above version, 2025.
2. The Seagull, by Anton Chekhov, translated by Stan Lai, performed by National Institute of the Arts, 1990, National Arts Hall, Taipei. Beijing version, 2014.
3. The Interview, by Jean-Claude Van Italie, translated by Stan Lai, , performed by National Institute of the Arts, 1991, Studio 206, Department of Theatre, National Institute of the Arts, Taipei.
4. A Servant of Two Masters, by Carlo Goldoni, adapted by Stan Lai, performed by Performance Workshop, 1995, National Theatre, Taipei. Theatre Above version, 2015.
5. Angels in America, Part I: Millennium Approaches, by Tony Kushner, translated by Stan Lai, performed by Performance Workshop, 1996. Chinese-language world premiere, National Theatre, Taipei.
6. The Comedy of Sex and Politics, adapted by Stan Lai from Carlo Goldoni's The Mistress of the Inn, performed by Performance Workshop, 2001, National Theatre, Taipei.
7. Waiting for Godot, by Samuel Beckett, translated by Stan Lai, performed by Performance Workshop, 2001, National Theatre, Taipei.
8. I Take Your Hand in Mine, by Carol Rocamora, based on the letters of Anton Chekhov, Beijing and on tour, 2014, Theatre Above version, 2020.
9. Winter Journey (Dongzhilv), by Wan Fang, Beijing and on tour, 2015.
10. Peking Man (Beijingren), by Cao Yu, Beijing and on tour, 2018.

Films

Writer and Director

1. The Peach Blossom Land,
   produced by Performance Workshop Films and Long Shong Films, 117
   minutes, Taiwan, 1992. (Silver Award, Tokyo International Film
   Festival, 1992; Golden Horse Award, Taiwan 1992; Caligari Award, Berlin
   International Film Festival, 1993; Best Film, Best Director, Fipresci
   Award, Singapore International Film Festival, 1993. Chosen to represent Taiwan at the
   1993 Academy Awards Best Foreign Film category.)
2. The Red Lotus Society,
   produced by Performance Workshop Films and Long Shong Films, 120
   minutes, Taiwan, 1994. (Selected to the New York Film Festival,
   Toronto, Tokyo, Berlin, Torino, Vancouver Festivals, and at other
   festivals around the world.)

Other Credits

1. Producer for Edward Yang’s A Brighter Summer Day, 1992.
2. English subtitling for all Hou Hsiao-hsien films 1984-92.

Opera

Director

1. Journey to the West, by Chien-tai Chen, libretto by Stan Lai, National Theatre,  Taipei, 1987.
2. Don Giovanni, by W.A. Mozart, National Symphony Orchestra, National Concert Hall, Taipei, 2004.
3. Cosi fan Tutte, by W.A. Mozart, National Symphony Orchestra, National Concert Hall, Taipei, 2006.
4. The Marriage of Figaro, by W.A. Mozart, National Symphony Orchestra, National Concert Hall, Taipei, 2006.
5. Dream of the Red Chamber, by Bright Sheng, libretto David Henry Hwang, San Francisco Opera, 2016, 2022.

TV

Television (Writer and Director)

1. Created, produced, wrote and directed series All in this Family are Human,
   a week-nightly hour-long sit-com aired in Taiwan, scripted
   through improvisational methods daily in comment on breaking news and
   world events. Wrote and directed 244 episodes, 1995-97.

Radio

1. Host, “The Inspiration of Improvisation,” jazz show, Broadcasting Corporation of China, Taipei, 1988-91.

Other Writings

CreativitRy: Asia's Iconic Playwright Reveals the Art of Creativity

from the cover:

"Widely recognized as Asia’s greatest living playwright, Stan Lai (Chinese Lai Shengchuan) has written one of the unique works of our time, explaining that the mysterious act of creativity is actually a traceable function of mind, and there is a path to learn creativity through un-learning many of our habits picked up in life. His special map, as well as tailor-made exercises, lays out an awe-inspiring yet practical guide from a lifetime of creative work, revered in Asia by artists and business leaders alike."

Translation (into Chinese)

1. Pinter, Harold. Old Times. Taipei: Crown, 1987. Includes the plays Old Times and Betrayal.
2. Chekhov, Anton. The Seagull, For performance, 1990.
3. Goldoni, Carlo. A Servant of Two Masters. For performance, 1995.
4. Revel, Jean-Fran?ois and Matthieu Ricard. The Monk and the Philosopher. Taipei: Xianjue Press, 1999.
5. Ricard, Matthieu. The Life of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Taipei: Citi Press, 2001.
6. Fo, Dario. Accidental Death of an Anarchist. Taipei: Tangshan, 2001.
7. Kushner, Tony. Angels in America, Part I: Millennium Approaches, for performance, 1996.
8. Goldoni, Carlo. The Mistress of the Inn, for performance, 2001.
9. Beckett, Samuel. Waiting for Godot, for performance, 2001.
10. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Enlightened Courage. Taipei: Shechen, 2005.
11. Ricard, Matthieu. Happiness: A Guide to Life’s Most Important Skill. Taipei: Commonwealth Press, 2007.
12. Rocamora, Carol. I Take Your Hand in Mine, for performance, 2014.
13. Chekhov, Anton. The Seagull, Drama Quarterly, Beijing, Aug 2016.