Plays & Playwriting with Stan Lai

Ep. 179. In this episode, I sit down with renowned playwright and theatre innovator Stan Lai for a rich conversation about his extraordinary journey in theatre, his philosophy on creativity, and the cultural forces that shape artistic expression. We explore how his experiences shaped his voice as a playwright and director, and how improvisation became a breakthrough in his early work.Stan shares insights from his book CreativitRy, expanding on his ideas about making space for inspiration by clearing mental clutter and using constraints as catalysts for creativity. He walks me through his Wisdom-Method triangle, a practical framework for unlocking creative energy, and we discuss the habits required to de-label ourselves and unlearn limiting beliefs like perfectionism.Finally, we explore the story behind the Wuzhen Theatre Festival and its role in fostering global cultural connections, nurturing new talent, and building artistic community. Throughout our conversation, we reflect on how Chinese culture informs universal themes in playwriting and how festivals and cultural exchange programs help shape the future of theatre.BioStan Lai has been called ‘the major contemporary Asian playwright of his time, perhaps of all time’ (Robert Brustein), ‘the best Chinese-language playwright and director in the world’ (BBC), and ‘Asia’s top theatre director’ (Asiaweek). Born in the US and raised in America and Taiwan, Lai earned a PhD from UC Berkeley before launching a groundbreaking career in Taiwan. His 40+ plays are celebrated across the Chinese-speaking world, including masterpieces such as A Dream Like a Dream and Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land. He is the co-founder of the Wuzhen Theatre Festival and Huichang Theatre Village in China. Theatre Above in Shanghai is a venue dedicated to his works.Check out Stan's Book