A Double Bill of Magic Jingju Art

　This series consists of two productions, each exploring the Eastern cultural perspectives on the themes of "life and death" and "yin and yang" from the viewpoints of "Zhuangzi" and "The Mirror of Karma" respectively. Through the utilization of Eastern theatrical arts such as Jingju and Kunqu , as well as modern stage aesthetics, the series aims to provide the audience with a multi-faceted experience of enchantment.

　　The first installment, "A Dream of Death and Life," intertwines the traditional play " Smashing the Coffin - Zhuangzi Tests His Wife" and the newly adapted play "Puppet Phantom," guided by Zhuangzi's philosophy. The second installment, "Twinned Reflections of Yin and Yang," connects two traditional plays, " Zhang San Seized Alive – A Ghost Tests Her Lover " and " Avenging Zidu," from the perspective of the underworld judge. Through a dialectical approach, the series showcases cultural reflections.

GuoGuang Opera Company

Since 1995, the GuoGuang Opera Company has devoted itself to infusing traditional Beijing and Kun opera with a contemporary sensibility. “Modernization” and “Artistic Refinement” have become two of their guiding principles. Their sources of inspiration are varied and range widely, from a calligraphic masterpiece by Wang Xizhi to a celebrated novel by Eileen Chang. To create contemporary Beijing opera, the GuoGuang Theater Company orients itself towards the ideal of using vivid theatrical artistry to create great works of contemporary culture. They seek to modernize their work and heighten its literary qualities. Through the accumulation of a body of newly revised Beijing operas, they seek out their own space in contemporary Taiwan’s cultural world. Step by step their work has acquired a modern perspective, allowing the current trends of contemporary culture to echo in their newly-created Beijing operas. Alongside contemporary poetry, novels, and theater, GuoGuang seeks to augment the cultural world with a new form of expression, “contemporary opera”. Modernization is not simply a matter of updating a work’s presentation, but of reshaping Beijing opera’s character, identity, and perspective. Beijing opera should not merely preserve traditional art and the cultural heritage. It must also reflect contemporary Taiwanese culture.

Aside from presenting traditional Beijing and Kun operas, GuoGuang has also created new works, such as Journey Through Hell, Wang Xi-Feng, Three People and Two Lamps, The Golden Cangue, Sunlight After Snowfall, Fox Tales, Meng Xiao-Dong, One-HundredYears on Stage, Flowing Sleeves and Rouge, Tan Chun, The Painting of Eighteen Luohans, Young Emperor Kangxi and Crafty Regent Aobai, Lord Guan Yu On Stage, Dowager Xiao-Zhuang and Dorgon. These new operas have been widely admired in cultural circles, have garnered numerous awards in Taiwan, and have found favor with audiences of all ages. In recent years, the troupe has been especially devoted to the training of young artists. They have sought new international collaborations – such as “The Dream of An Embroidered Robe”, a collaboration with the Yokohama Noh Theater, and “Phaedra”, a collaboration with Singapore’s Siong Leng Musical Association. GuoGuang has also expanded its collaboration with Trend Education Foundation in creating works embodying the New Aesthetics of Jing-Kun Opera, “Ode to the Relenting Storm” and “Heaven and Earth: Li Yu, the Poet Emperor”. Wang An-chi, artistic director of GuoGuang, and Wei Hai-min, a leading performer of female qingyi roles, have both won the Taiwanese National Award for Arts. Tang Wen-hua, a performer of older male roles, has earned a Taipei Cultural Award as well as the Japanese SGI cultural award. Wen Yu-hang, a performer of younger male roles in Beijing and Kun opera, has earned a Golden Melody Award as well as a Global Chinese Culture and Arts Award. Zhu An-li, performer of female huadan roles, has been recognized with a Taipei Cultural Award as well as a Best Actor Award from the Golden Melody Awards for the Traditional Arts. Dai Jun-fang has received a Best Director Award from the Golden Melody Awards for the Traditional Arts. The GuoGuang Opera company has toured Asia, Europe, and the Americas many times.

Tai Chun Fang, Taiwan

Tai Chun-Fang is a director of the GuoGuang Opera Company. Her recent works include: Heaven and Earth: Li Yu the Poet Emperor, The White Story-teller produced by The Party Theater Group, The Cursed Royal Family and A Song from Yan produced by Tang Mei-Yun Taiwanese Opera Troupe, Guanyin and The Sorcerer’s Bride produced by Taiwan Bangzi Opera Company, and Portrait of Love and Peach Blossom Rain produced by 1/2 Q Theater. Her directed works have been nominated for the Taishin Arts Awards many times, and Peach Blossom Rain won the Special Jury Award at the Taishin Arts Awards, while Where Does the Wind Come from? won the Best Group Annual Performance Award of the Golden Melody Awards of the Center of Traditional Arts.

Peng Chun-kang,Taiwan

Director of Jingju in Guoguang Opera Company. Graduate of the 16th class of the Fu-Hsing Drama School and the Taiwan Traditional Theatre Academy. With the creative concept of modernizing traditional Chinese opera, he possesses an artistic style that combines traditional heritage with innovative characteristics. He is serious, responsible, and talented.