Sword of Wisdom by U-Theatre from Taiwan

U–theatre

U-Theatre is an art group established in 1988 by Rou-yu Liu. The “U” of U-Theatre has the same pronunciation of a Chinese character meaning “superior, excellence”. In ancient China, this word (U-people) also referred to “performers” in Chinese traditional opera. Thus, “U” symbolizes “performers who continue from ancient times to the modern day.” Over a thousand years ago, a Chinese Zen master stated that a true artist embodies “Tao” (cultivation of vital energy) and “art” (learned artistic skills). U-Theatre has never deviated from its quest to fuse Tao and art in their performances. It becomes the goal of their performers’ lives and creations.

Ever since its inception, the site with an open-air stage and a sheltered-platform, on the Laochuan Mountains in Taipei suburb of Mucha, has been their home base. As a student of the Polish director Jerzy Grotowsky, founder Rou-yu Liu had undergone professional training that took place in the woods. She started paying attention to the physical training of performers and the development of the body’s energy, then later, decided that the focal point should be “ the development of performer’s body and mind” together. In 1993, Chih-chun Huang was invited to join as a drum instructor, and he introduced the training method of “learning meditation prior to drum techniques”. This became the foundation on which the Theatre’s training and performing style is built.

Sword of Wisdom

On Nov 2, the performance will feature highlights excerpts from U Theatre’s works to convey the power of solidity and tranquility, and it is about the path the Brave One must take in his practice of moral teachings. Using the Brave One with a sword as an icon, U-Theatre selected chapters that best fit this theme from its international touring repertory of “Sound of the Ocean”, “Meeting with Bodhisattva”, and “ A Touch of Zen.” The group has rearranged them into a completely new theatrical creation that integrates drumming, martial arts, drama, dance, and music-some drawn from the East, and some from the West. This offers the audience a rare opportunity to look into U-Theatre’s rich history and development, which starts with “The Sound of Ocean” when U-people emphasized physical training to cultivate strong stamina and skills in meditation. Next is “Meeting with Bodhisattva”, where the physical training was accompanied by affection and faith. Then, with “A Touch of Zen”, this piece focus on attaining wisdom. With this highlights from U Theatre’s works, U-people is in a dialogue with the world through “the art of drumming” and “courage”, interweaving the language of “theatre” with “life”.

While continuing the abstractive storytelling style from previous works, the most prominent feature of Sword of Wisdom is the innovative arrangement of drumming and music that U-people have created. The sounds of wooden and metal percussion are added to the sound of drumming, giving the music layers of delicate and rich texture. Moreover, the performance adopts the use of the staff to beat the drum in the performance, together with Gurdjieff Movements (the sacred dance) which is famous for its precision in movement, and this creative combination has brought U-people to a higher level of drumming as an art. U-Theatre hopes, through inspiring and stimulating drumming, the viewer will be led into a state of centeredness-where openness to the self is possible-and from this place entering a free and expansive state of mind.

( Meeting with Bodhisattva— Sword of Wisdom )

International Reviews

Since its successful performance of the Sound of Ocean at Festival d’Avignon in 1988, U-Theatre has performed at Biennale de la Danse in Lyon, Next Wave Festival in New York, BITE at Barbican Centre in London, International Chekhov Theatre Festival in Moscow and various festivals and venues in Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, France, Italy, Spain, Norway, Brazil, Venezuela, Israel and Shanghai. Their performances had acquired numerous praises internationally.

“…(it) bridges Chinese Opera, with its sober splendor, with the modern theatre of Grotowski, with its emphasis on rigorous performer training.” –Liberation, Paris, France.

“ A synthesis of theatre, percussion, martial arts and meditation. At times the gongs swell like a wave rising from the deep, then ebb as the decay of the note reverberates around the auditorium. Lightly tapped, repetitive phrases build into rapid-fire rhythms to evoke the pitter-patter of raindrops build into a downpour.” –The Times, London, UK.

“ Their discipline is equally military, at the same time their virtuosity spectacular.” –Le Figaro, Paris, France.

“A great and complex beauty to the drumming, sounds and silence and simple beats and intricate meshes of precisely articulated rhythms.” –The New York Times, N.Y.

“A powerful performance that brings you a peaceful and quiet mind, and every minutes brings you a full-on experience.” –Artistic Director of Bergen Festival, Norway.

“Magic rhythms that come from Taiwan. The performance conveys a mystical experience of existence. It is absolutely a perfect performance.” –IL GAZZETTINO, Italy

“The performance that has enlightened Berliners this week is the U-Theatre’s Sound of the Ocean.” –Der Tagesspiegel, Germany

Continued on next page for more information, please click here…..

(The Sound of Ocean)

(A touch of Zen)

( Crossing the River )

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