It’s been a while since I’ve had a Stage Door Dialogues to share with you, and I’m so excited that this interview gets to be with 郝邦宇 Steven Hao. 郝邦宇 Steven Hao is an award winning director, actor, writer, and the Artistic Director of Pucker’s, currently based in Tkaronto. Born and raised in China, Steven is very open about how his upbringing and cultural influences have often impacted how he tells stories and leads his processes. His work can be found across many stages in Ontario, primarily with a focus on new Canadian works. I get to ask 郝邦宇 Steven about Pucker’s, Concord Floral, and what it’s like being on the other side of the stage!

1. Could you please introduce yourself to my readers and tell us a bit about your role with Concord Floral ?

Hello! My name is 郝邦宇 Steven Hao. I am one of the directors of Concord Floral , as well as the Artistic Director of Pucker’s! My role with this production has largely been about conceiving a new vision for this Canadian classic. Not only to help recontextualize the piece in a post-pandemic world, but to honour the play’s beautiful exploration of guilt, identity, and adolescence. To help shape the production in a way that feels both urgent and intimate—bridging the raw energy of the cast with the larger questions the play asks about mortality, belonging, and the weight of choices.

2. What was your inspiration for starting Pucker’s?

My business partner Allison Mackenzie and I met many years ago while attending University together. We shared many similarities when it came to all things art related: a true admiration for artists, a strong passion for creativity, a craving to foster communities, and above all else, the never-ending ambition of wanting to make art happen. One of my long-term career goals has always been to become a crucial voice in the Canadian theatre landscape. In recent years, this desire has manifested into wanting to become an artistic leader. Meanwhile, Allison has been keeping busy making waves with her own initiatives, one of which is Tinker: A cozy creative third space for all creative folk to work, listen, collaborate and find community. Having also been producing partners of the Hungover Cabaret for the last five years, we knew it was time for us to start making more magic together. Then came Pucker’s, we wanted to make something that was for artists by artists, something to ignite bold experiential innovation across all art disciplines. To challenge the convention of performance art, all the while forging deep, human connections rooted in curiosity and permission to play.

3. Myself, and I’m sure most of my readers, are accustomed to seeing you on stage. What’s it been like to be in the Director’s chair for this show?

It has been wonderful, and a great honour to work alongside so many talented artists. I love being able to create rooms that people want to be in, making art that people feel excited about, and building communities around the art that we make collectively. It’s especially been a joy to direct Concord Floral as well, alongside one of my favourite collaborators Alli Carry—who’s a brilliant choreographer and thinker. The process has felt alive and urgent every step of the way, working with such a fearless group of artists and watching them claim this story as their own has been deeply inspiring. Guiding the company through the theme of this play has been a real treat, and being surprised by the discoveries they bring to rehearsal every day, has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my artistic life. Directing is such a beautiful medium to tell stories, and you learn so much about the craft of art-making as a whole. It’s been an incredible experience exercising this part of the artistic muscle and I hope to have many more opportunities to continue to tell stories.

4. What about Concord Floral speaks to you as a performer and director?

Where to begin? Jordan Tannahill’s writing, this incredible world he’s built based off of Giovanni Boccaccio’s The Decameron, an opportunity to revitalize this Canadian classic. There are so many aspects of this story that excites me so much as an artist. When I re-read this play in the summer of 2022, it became evident to me this already timeless classic demanded another iteration. This time, not just about the teens in any time period, ones that survived through a global pandemic, ones that had to relearn how to socialize with one another, ones that had to grow up behind camera lenses and tinny voices, ones whose youth were robbed from them. I wanted to explore the teens reuniting in a world where the rules for coexisting together has changed significantly. I’m connected to how this play gives voice to a generation often spoken about but not often listened to on its own terms. It places young people at the center of the narrative, not as stereotypes, but as complex, messy, and deeply human people, grappling with guilt, friendship, fear, and survival. The play also echoes timeless questions: how do we outrun the past? In doing so, it becomes more than a story about youth; it’s a meditation on responsibility, community, and the cost of silence.

5. What are your hopes for the future of Pucker’s?

The future of Pucker’s is about growth, community, and taking risks. We don’t see ourselves as just another indie theatre company, we’re planting the seeds to become a cultural force that can shape conversations and inspire bold artistic practice for years to come, not just in Canada, but everywhere else in the world. Our aim is to keep creating work that becomes an experience you can take home with: work that feels visceral, playful, and challenging. In the years ahead, Pucker’s will expand its collaborations to nurture emerging artists, and carve out a space where experimentation is not only welcomed but expected. We’re building toward a future where Pucker’s stands as a leader in Canadian art—an orchard full of new ideas, unexpected flavours, and art that asks you to lean in and taste something you haven’t before. We’re excited for you to be on that journey with us!

I want to thank 郝邦宇 Steven for taking the time to answer my questions. Concord Floral runs at The Theatre Centre from October 8-12. For more information and tickets, visit: https://theatrecentre.org/event/concord-floral-2025/

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