“Stan Lai is Asia’s Top Theatre Director.” -- – Asia week
"The best Chinese language playwright and director in the world, and pretty prolific too . " –BBC
"Lai’s most famous work Secret Love In Peach Blossom Land may be the most popular contemporary play in China.”--New York Times
"Stan is probably the best Chinese language playwright and director right now." --International Herald Tribune
“Few theater artists can claim the kind of far-reaching impact Stan Lai has achieved."-- Orange County Register, U.S.A.
Stan Lai was born on 26 October 1954 in Washington D.C., where his father was serving in the Republic of China's Embassy. He returned to Taiwan in 1966. In 1976, Lai was graduate from Fu Jen Catholic University.In 1978, Lai married Ding Nai-chu (丁乃竺). After the marriage, the couple went to US for further studies. The couple have two daughters: Stephanie, an actress, and Celeste Lai, an animator.
He received his Ph.D. in Dramatic Art from University of California, Berkeley in 1983. He is also Professor and Founding Dean of the College of Theatre at Taipei National University of the Arts. In 1984, Lai and Ding founded Performance Workshop (表演工作坊), a contemporary theatre group that has become one of the most celebrated in the Chinese world. Lai became the Artistic Director while Ding is the Managing Director. Their work has revitalized theatre in Taiwan and had deep influence on the current theatre in mainland China.
Lai had been the recipient of Taiwan’s highest award for the arts, the National Arts Award, twice - 1988 and 2001, among many other awards, including being inducted into the Chinese Theatre Hall of Fame in 2007. His films have won international awards at Berlin, Tokyo and Singapore. In 2010, he was chosen by Newsweek China as Man of the Year in the field of Culture. In 2011, he received the Grand Cordon, Order of Brilliant Star from the Presidential Office, the highest civilian decoration for Taiwan.
In 2006 and 2007, Lai taught at Stanford University as Visiting Professor and Resident Artist for the I.D.A. program. In 2013 he lectured at Berkeley as Avenali Fellow and Artist in Residence.
A prolific author of 30 original performed plays to date, Lai was also director for the 2009 Summer Deaflympics, in charge of organizing the opening and closing ceremonies which were held in Taipei in September 2009.
