Previous stage photo
Photographer: WANG Kai
Stan Lai’s 40
th work,
River/Cloud, is a continuation of the love story between JIANG Binliu and YUN Zhifan in
Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land. The drama, which unfolds in the form of letter shuttlecocking, depicts how they wait or fail to receive a letter from each other over a long period of 40 years, and what they experience in their daily lives. It boasts a narrative structure across time and space, built out of stacked words and philosophical scenes by Stan Lai. Like a story told by a bard, the drama will be presented to the audience as a theatrical work of emotional depth and artistic beauty.
The stage setting for
River/Cloud is partitioned like a “memory box”. According to the set designer, Daniel Ostling, this will help to vividly present how the characters spend four decades in their respective lives, revealing the turbulent fate of an entire generation. Brigitte Lin and Ismene Ting, who starred in
Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land, have also contributed to this drama by writing letters for the characters at different stages to enhance the metanarrative power and literary aesthetics.
Previous stage photo
Photographer: WANG Kai
Thirty-five years after the premiere of Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land, Stan Lai took up his pen and wrote this sequel. For the work written 35 years ago, he likens it to a sketch where there are blank spaces, in which River/Cloud is created, that is, the love story between JIANG Binliu and YUN Zhifan is depicted with more delicate and rich brushstrokes. This work not only is a supplement to the story of the two protagonists, but also offers a profound reflection on life and the times.
In 2026, River/Cloud will be presented by Chang Chen, a specially invited famous actor, and Ai Hsiao, a “theatre diva” who started playing the role of YUN Zhifan in 1991. Ara Kimbo, the father of Taiwan, China folk music, will sing live on the stage, with a unique “land of idyllic beauty” to form in his nostalgic music. After a lapse of nearly four decades, Stan Lai has composed another theatrical epic, offering his own answer to the question - “Have you ever thought of me in these years?”, with a lost era inscribed on the stage.
Previous stage photo
Photographer: WANG Kai
Playwright/Director: Stan Lai
Some characters are from Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land, which is copyrighted by Stan Lai and Lichun Lee
Letter Writers: Brigitte Lin, Ismene Ting
Dramaturg: Shih-Chieh King
Starring Cast: Chang Chen, Ai Hsiao
GU Xuewei, LI Furong, FENG Li, SI Wen, MA Jingwen
YUAN Xinli, Ethan Wei, WENG Quanwei, CHEN Guohui
Guest Actor: Ara Kimbo
Set Designer: Daniel Ostling
Lighting Designer: Chien Lee Zen
Costume Designers: Ray Fang, WENG Bangfeng
Video Projection Designer: WANG Yisheng
Dance Designer: Wei-Chia Su
Graphic Designer: CHEN Junyan
Music Director: Stan Lai
Theme Music (River and Cloud Tango) Composer: Stan Lai
Arranger: John Vaughan
Executive Producer: Nai-chu Ting
National Host: Theatre Above
Presenters: Theatre Above, Performance Workshop Creative Co., Ltd.
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