Huayi Dialogues: Reinterpreting Classics with Fang Xu

Fang Xu, a graduate of the Directing Department of the Central Academy of Drama (Directing), is a multi-talented writer, director, and actor. Since 2011, he has adapted many of Lao She's works into plays, earning the title of "Lao She's Specialist." Fang has developed a distinctive "daxieyi" (expressive and spontaneous) Peking-style theatre, offering a fresh perspective on Lao She's legacy. His notable works include The Life of Mine, Mr Ma and Son, and Heaven Sent (Niu Tianci). In addition to directing his own productions, Fang collaborates with renowned theatre groups, such as the Lin Zhaohua Theatre Studio, the National Theatre Company of China, and the Beijing People's Art Theatre.

The Artistic Director of Emergency Stairs in Singapore, Xiaoyi is considered one of the most promising leaders at the forefront of the experimental theatre scene and cultural exchange network in Asia. He has been involved in over 80 theatre productions as director, playwright, and actor over the past two decades. Xiaoyi has remained steadfast in his pursuit of the development and transcendence of theatrical forms, while actively promoting cross-cultural and transnational dialogues. Outside of his creative endeavors, he is also a dynamic curator, educator, and cultural critic.

Major awards Xiaoyi has received include Lee Kuan Yew Gold Medal (2010), the Young Artist Award (2016) by the National Arts Council of Singapore, Nanyang Outstanding Young Alumni Award (2022), Patron of Heritage and the Arts Award (2023) by Nanyang Technological University, Golden Point Award (2017, 2019, and 2023), Global Outstanding Young Leaders Award by Asia Week (Yazhou Zhoukan) (2024).

Platforms initiated and curated by Xiaoyi include Re-viewer, Singapore’s inaugural Chinese theatre critique platform (2014–present); Southernmost, an intercultural arts festival (2017 – 2019); No More Theatre , dedicated to fostering collaboration between digital technology and the arts (2018 – present); Emergency Academy , a global youth cultural leadership incubator (2020 – present); and The Peripheral Experiment, an independent arts festival (201 – present); Young Artists Incubation Platform Emergency Camp (2014 – present); among others. Presently, Xiaoyi serves as the resident artist in Linjiang New District in Jiangsu Province, China, while holding the position of Senior Research Fellow and International Exchange Advisor at NAFA, within the University of the Arts Singapore.