Global Stage Meets Local Charm: Huichang Theatre Season 004 Set to Transform Jiangxi Town into a ‘Peach Blossom Spring’
The intersection of global prestige and local heritage is coming to Jiangxi. On April 13, the official announcement for Huichang Theatre Season 004 was unveiled at the Century Theatre in Beijing. Founded by visionaries Stan Lai and Ding Naizhu, the upcoming festival will run from May 29 to June 7, 2026, under the evocative theme “World Theatre Gathering, Dreams Fulfilled in Huichang’s Peach Blossom Spring.”
The event promises a massive scale of artistic expression, featuring nearly 30 international and domestic productions and approximately 400 performances. The festival aims to turn the Huichang Theatre Town into a global hub for the performing arts, blending avant-garde stage innovations and the preservation of intangible cultural heritage with bold reinterpretations of world classics.
Among the high-profile highlights is a collaboration with renowned international theatre and opera director Travis Preston, who will lead the creation of a Chinese-language production of Henrik Ibsen’s classic Hedda Gabler. This production is designed to bridge cultural gaps and create a modern resonance with Chinese audiences through a unique, modern lens.
Stan Lai will also debut a specialized environmental theatre piece titled Sleepwalking. This immersive experience will take place within the historic ancient residences of the town, utilizing Gan opera and drawing inspiration from the first of Tang Xianzu’s “Four Dreams of Linchuan,” The Peony Pavilion. The play explores the encounter and dialogue between ghosts, ancient scholars, and modern poets.
The festival’s lineup reads like a who’s who of the arts scene. Other anticipated premieres include:
- The Tree of Heaven: An original ecological life dance theatre piece choreographed and directed by Zhu Fengwei, with Yang Liping serving as Artistic Director.
- Zhu: The directorial debut of acclaimed actress Hao Lei.
- The Prequel to Natural Pride: TA Knows: A new directorial effort from musician Adore.
2026 also marks a historic milestone: the 40th anniversary of the premiere of Stan Lai’s legendary play, Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land. To celebrate, the festival will showcase three distinct versions—the Heritage Edition, the Theatre Edition, and Jiang/Yun·Zhi/Jian. Complementing these performances, an academic symposium will bring together experts and artists to analyze the play’s 40-year evolution, its artistic value, and its enduring cultural impact.
The focus on “nostalgia” serves as both the creative spark for Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land and the spiritual foundation of the Huichang Theatre Town. By linking international mastery with local roots, Huichang Theatre Season 004 is positioning itself as a vital bridge between East and West, North, and South.
