U-Theatre unveils performance inspired by philosophers

2023-06-13

U-Theatre is a performance group in Taiwan that combines drumming and theater arts. This year marks their 35th year anniversary. To celebrate, they will stage a performance inspired by the teachings of philosophers Laozi and Zhuangzi. FTV reporter Stephany Yang takes us in for a preview.

U-Theatre takes to the stage with a powerful drum performance.

In the backdrop are images inspired by Taiwanese splatter painter Ke Shu-ling. Wang I-sheng, an award-winning theater image designer, transformed Ke’s works into beautiful images. This is U-Theatre’s newest work "Dao V. 2.0."

Wang I-sheng
Theater visual designer
I uncovered a lot of details in Shu-ling’s paintings, and then placed them into the most suitable parts of the performance.

Ke Shu-ling
Splash painter
This is my first cross-border collaboration.

U-Theatre is a performance group that combines theater arts and drumming. Its members are masters in martial arts, tai chi, percussion, and meditation. This year marks its 35th-year anniversary. To celebrate, the troupe unveiled a performance inspired by the teachings of philosophers Laozi and Zhuangzi.

Ruoyu Liu
U-Theatre founder and director
We thought about how to make the message of Laozi and Zhuangzi more tangible. Secondly, we have always wanted to use tai chi to deliver this narrative. The power of tai chi generates inner strength.

Through this production, the troupe hopes to examine the topic of AI versus human power. They also hope to encourage people to return to simplicity and nature.

Ruoyu Liu
U-Theatre founder and director
The present moment is a very critical time. Many things can be replaced by AI, such as singing. However, at this time, we must think about how we can restore humanity back to nature. Because when you’re restored to nature, that state of being will always belong to you. Technology can’t change it.

Eight performances will be held in Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung in September, November and December.

優人神鼓最新劇作創作靈感來自老莊哲學

2023-06-13

歷經35年的淬鍊，結合戲劇及打鼓的表演團體優人神鼓推出最新劇作，創作靈感來自老莊哲學。一起來看看。

震撼的鼓聲，為優人神鼓這場記者會拉開序幕。

同樣吸睛的還有背景影像，畫家柯淑玲的潑彩畫作，透過屢獲殊榮的影像設計大師王奕盛之手呈現。這是優人神鼓的最新作品《墨具五色》。

[[劇場影像設計師王奕盛 ]]
"挖掘了很多淑玲畫作裡面的細節，然後把它放在最適合演出的段落裡面"

[[潑彩畫家柯淑玲]]
"這是我第一次做跨界的合作"

結合戲劇及打鼓的表演團體優人神鼓，成員來自武術、太極、鼓樂和冥想等各界大師。歷經35年的淬鍊，優人神鼓推出最新劇作，創作靈感來自老莊哲學。

[[導演劉若瑀]]
"我們就覺得，如何讓老莊的訊息可以讓大家感受的更具體一點，第二個，就是一直想要用太極的身手來傳遞敘事這個東西，以太極的力氣產生內在的、內勁的力量 "

劇團希望透過這作品來檢視AI與人力的衝撞，也鼓勵人們反璞歸真。

[[導演劉若瑀]]
"現在是很關鍵的時間，很多事情是替代人，像是唱歌也可以用AI去替代，可是這時候人類就必須思考，怎麼樣讓我們人類回到大自然，因為當你回到大自然的時候，那個事情就是永永遠遠是屬於自己的，科技沒辦法改變"

《墨具五色》將於9月、11月及12月分別在台北、台中及高雄登場。