From screen to stage triumph

Crocodile marks Chao's first foray into theater, a medium he had never explored during his long acting career.

The plot revolves around the protagonist, Shan, and a crocodile he receives as a gift for his birthday. Through an infinitely growing crocodile, the story delves into the complexity of human nature and explores the theme of "desire". The three-hour drama, coproduced by Magnificent Culture Co Ltd and Damai Entertainment, and directed by Wang Keran, features a star-studded cast from Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Chinese mainland. Its recognition in winning the Wenhua Award represents a milestone for private theater troupes and enterprises.

When Chao learned of his award, he was taken aback. "I was shocked," he says with a laugh. "I'm a newcomer to the theater world. This was my first play, and I feel like I still have so much to learn. I didn't expect to win an award at all!"

For him, winning the Wenhua Award was more than just a professional honor; it was a powerful validation of his decision to step back onto the stage. "It gave me confidence," he says. "I thought I would do maybe two plays, and that would be it. But this award has energized me, and now I'm eager to take on even more challenges."

One of the first people he shared the news with was none other than Mo Yan. Chao recalls how Mo Yan had attended a performance and offered invaluable feedback.

"He told me the monologue was too long — 12 or 13 minutes in total — and suggested I trim it down, but I didn't mind. I told him, 'Whatever you think is best for the play!' It was his writing that helped me, and that monologue, long as it was, actually saved me. It gave me the chance to redeem myself," says Chao.

Born in Taiwan, Chao has portrayed over 100 characters in films and television. Without any formal training in acting or experience as an actor, he started his acting career by playing the leading role of Wai Tung in The Wedding Banquet, a movie directed by Ang Lee in 1993. In 1994, he played the role of Zhenbao in Red Rose White Rose, a Hong Kong film directed by Stanley Kwan, based on the novella of the same title by Eileen Chang.

In 1997, he played the role of Sun Yat-sen in the movie, The Soong Sisters, directed by Mabel Cheung. In 1999, he worked with director Li Shaohong, playing two characters in the TV drama, Palace of Desire, or Daming Gong Ci.

Chao's transition from film and television to theater was far from easy. Having spent decades in front of the camera, he was accustomed to quick scenes and short takes. But in theater, every moment onstage is live, requiring sustained focus and emotional intensity.

"The biggest challenge was concentration," Chao says. "In film, you can focus for seconds at a time, but onstage, it's a whole different game. You're on for hours at a time. For someone like me, who struggles with maintaining focus, it was a real test."

The process wasn't smooth at first. Chao recalls that he often found himself drifting off mid-rehearsal. "In the beginning, my mind would wander. I'd need my fellow actors to remind me to stay on track," he says with a chuckle. "But over time, my concentration improved, and eventually, I was able to hold my focus through an entire act. It's a skill I didn't know I had."

Chao adds that the play's director Wang played a pivotal role throughout, from the initial invitation to rehearsals. Wang encouraged Chao, guided him in character development, emotional expression, and physicality — all critical to his Wenhua Award recognition.