A theatrical homecoming

For Lai, creativity is not something imported or artificially constructed. It must grow from the land itself, fed by the cultural memory embedded in its people and places.

Huichang Theatre Season is not just a festival for local people, it's also a stage for the world. Among the guests is American director Robert Wilson, whose experimental works have shaped global theater for half a century.

"It's very exciting that this tiny little village is thinking globally and you are bringing cultures from all over the world," Wilson said to Lai during his talk session with creators in the course of the theater season. "Art has the possibility of bringing people together. Our communities need centers — places where we come together and share something."

Camille Beaumier, the codirector of Gratte Ciel, echoed this sentiment. Her troupe made its first-ever visit to China through the theater season this year and enjoyed the tour a lot. "It's really amazing," she says. "In terms of culture, in terms of the openness and generosity of the people — it's exceeded all our expectations."

This model of global exchange, rooted in heritage but reaching outward, has become the heartbeat of Huichang. International visitors, schoolchildren, retired factory workers, and professional actors now mingle in courtyards once used for storage.

"Yet, life demands profound contemplation, urgent discussions, and collective problem-solving. The theater remains one of humanity's last bastions for such depth," Lai says, smiling. "That's why we warmly welcome everyone to Huichang."