The tide of history

Starting from Lai's own theater venue Theatre Above in Shanghai on July 19, the play is scheduled to tour six other Chinese cities, including Beijing, Fujian province's Xiamen, Guangdong province's Foshan and Jiangsu province's Suzhou, until the end of August.

"There are no longer military dependents' villages in Taiwan. Actually, there is a single one left, and that is The Village. This story needs to be told. And I believe that all Chinese people should see this story, because it represents a genuine part of history that might be lost if left untold," Lai says.

"These people we have depicted may not have been glamorous, but they have occupied a place in history for just a few decades. Their experiences have woven a unique narrative."