Past and present

Taiwan province playwright and theater director Stan Lai is bringing his classic work The Village to Beijing again.

Paying attention to people's shared affection on both sides of the Straits, the drama centers on three veteran soldiers' families in a Taiwan village.

In the late 1940s, Taiwan experienced an influx of immigrants from the mainland who were subsequently housed in what became known as Dependents' Villages. Thus were born communities and a subculture that would vibrantly color Taiwan's cultural heritage forever.

Pairing two of Taiwan's most creative minds - Taiwan TV producer Wang Wei-chung and theater director Stan Lai -the production has received acclaim both in Taiwan and the mainland, since its debut in 2008 in Taiwan. It will be staged at Shanghai Oriental Art Center on Oct 19 and 20.

Sept 29 and 30, Oct 1. Poly Theater, Poly Plaza, 14 Dongzhimen Nandajie, Dongcheng district, Beijing. 400-880-2880. Oct 19 and 20. Shanghai Oriental Art Center, 425 Dingxiang Road Shanghai. 021-6854-1234.