Hu Defu, better known as Ara Kimbo, a pioneer of Taiwan folk music, will make a cameo in selected performances, and set designer Daniel Ostling has created a multi-compartment structure to present the phases the characters go through in their lives.

"I have 40 years of experience in stage productions and among all the productions I've worked on, River/Cloud is probably the most poetic. I am delighted to have brought this piece to life, which tells the story of my parents' generation, focusing on Taipei from the 1960s to the '80s," Ding says.

The play is scheduled to tour cities including Xi'an in Shaanxi province, Shanghai, Beijing and Hangzhou in Zhejiang province. From Nov 1 to 3, it will be staged at Theatre Above in Shanghai.

Contact the writer at chengyuezhu@chinadaily.com.cn