However, she felt trapped in a demanding job with long hours and cramped living conditions, struggling to find true joy in a fast-paced urban setting. Returning to her hometown, she discovers that years of urban life reshaped her, making her feel out of place in her familiar childhood surroundings.
Standing at the crossroads of her 30s, Zhang is unsure of the next steps as she thinks about her future. Will she stay in Shanghai or go back to her hometown?
For the play's director and scriptwriter, Zhai Bowen, this award was "redemption". Like her character, Zhai, 35, was also grappling with a dilemma before clinching the prize.
Zhai discovered her passion for theater while studying at the Shanghai International Studies University. Although her major was in the School of Journalism and Communication, she devoted much of her spare time to the university's theatrical troupe.
Instead of pursuing a job related to her field of study, Zhai started her career as a theater producer and program manager at the Shanghai 1933 Micro Theatre.
At 28, she began pursuing a master's degree in theater directing at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in the United Kingdom. After completing her studies, she became an indie theater director.
Last year, her first self-written and self-directed play We're How We Eat premiered. While the play was relatively well-received by audiences, it did not receive the industry recognition Zhai hoped for.
"I fell into self-doubt. I didn't choose a stable job that most people opt for, but it seems like I haven't made much progress on the path I've chosen," she reflects.
"Could a theater producer position with greater demand be a more suitable path for my livelihood compared to being an indie theater director?"
This conflict plagued her.
