Asian American Theatre Revue

Featuring
WU Hsing-Kuo the most prominent actor/director in Taiwanese theater and
WEI Hai-Ming the internationally acclaimed Chinese opera star
LIN Keh-Hua Lighting designer
LIN Jin-Ru Costume designer

Performing at The California Theatre, San Jose
Saturday May 21 (8pm) and Sunday May 22 (3pm)

The Contemporary Legend Theatre is widely regarded as one of the best theatre companies in Asia. Critics from the capitals of Europe to the capitals of Asia have lauded The Contemporary Legend Theatre for its revolutionary fusion of modern theatre with the traditional elements of Peking Opera. As stated in a review by The Guardian (London) "In any language this is exciting theatre. But it is a bonus to see such a well-conceived innovation that combines the dazzle of Peking Opera with the strengths of Western realism."

Determined to bring Peking Opera into the modern world, Taiwanese artist and Peking Opera star WU Hsing-Kuo started the revolutionary Contemporary Legend Theatre in 1986 with a group of young, breakaway artists and theatre enthusiasts. WU Hsing-Kuo believes that to make traditional topics more meaningful they must be given, in addition to a change of style, a new spirit, new thinking, and new attitudes that reflect contemporary society.

In an article profiling the company's origins, Mr. Wu explained his motivation "All I want to do is to bring Peking Opera together with Western theatrical art. I will not give up Peking Opera [for] it is in my bones. [However] it is very simple, how can Peking Opera survive if we cannot keep our audience? There can be no theatre if there is no audience. Peking Opera is like an antique vase. You cannot break it and make another one. I won‚t say that my works have improved Peking Opera. This art form is already so refined. I'd describe them as new theatre built upon a traditional art form."

Since its first production, The Contemporary Legend Theatre has been recognized as a burgeoning creative force that has redefined Taiwanese drama. The company has moved away from Peking Opera‚s core values of minimalism to experiment with language, musical choices, and subject matter. The expressive forms of singing, chanting, acting, face painting, elaborate costuming, acrobatics and stage combat have been adapted to Western classical plays to create a modern sensibility.

A critic for The Independent described the results as "a great stylistic break...a rescue operation on behalf of Peking Opera. The physical skills were wonderful and unforgettable."

The Contemporary Legend Theatre's first production, The Kingdom of Desire (1986) was an adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth. The play had been transposed from medieval Scotland to a court in Third Century BC China but the famous Macbeth images remain ˆ the bloody hands that cannot be cleansed, the ghost at the banquet, the sleepwalking scene and the concluding fight scene. Following its debut in Taipei, he Kingdom of Desire was honorably invited to London by the Royal National Theatre and well received by English audiences. The Kingdom of Desire has since toured Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Germany, France, Holland, and been featured in the internationally acclaimed Avignon Festival in France.

Other productions created and toured by The Contemporary Legend Theatre are War and Eternity (from Shakespeare's Hamlet), Medea, Oresteia, Yin Yang River, and The Last Days of Emperor Lee Yu.

This spring, Dimension Performing Arts, Inc. will bring The Contemporary Legend Theatre to the Bay Area for two rare performances of The Kingdom of Desire at the newly renovated California Theatre in San Jose. Featuring WU Hsing-Kuo and WEI Hai-Ming in the title roles, with lighting design by LIN Keh-Hua, one of the most sought after designers in Asia, these must-see performances of The Kingdom of Desire will mark US debut of this extraordinary company.

Dimension Performing Arts, Inc. is the only non-performing presenter of Chinese performing arts in the San Francisco South Bay Area. Since 1996, Dimension has been inviting school children to the San Jose Center for Performing Arts to see Celebrations, a series of programs that present master Chinese artists in performance. Over the past eight years 40,000 schoolchildren have attended Celebrations free of charge. In addition to this vital community service, Dimension reaches out to mainstream audiences by presenting touring artists from China and Taiwan, holding various exhibitions, and co-sponsoring cultural events.

Questions? Email



	The Kingdom of Desire An adaptation of William Shakespeare's Macbeth Performed by The Contemporary Legend Theatre (Taiwan) Featuring WU Hsing-Kuo the most prominent actor/director in Taiwanese theater and WEI Hai-Ming the internationally acclaimed Chinese opera star LIN Keh-Hua Lighting designer LIN Jin-Ru Costume designer Performing at The California Theatre, San Jose Saturday May 21 (8pm) and Sunday May 22 (3pm) The Contemporary Legend Theatre is widely regarded as one of the best theatre companies in Asia. Critics from the capitals of Europe to the capitals of Asia have lauded The Contemporary Legend Theatre for its revolutionary fusion of modern theatre with the traditional elements of Peking Opera. As stated in a review by The Guardian (London) "In any language this is exciting theatre. But it is a bonus to see such a well-conceived innovation that combines the dazzle of Peking Opera with the strengths of Western realism." Determined to bring Peking Opera into the modern world, Taiwanese artist and Peking Opera star WU Hsing-Kuo started the revolutionary Contemporary Legend Theatre in 1986 with a group of young, breakaway artists and theatre enthusiasts. WU Hsing-Kuo believes that to make traditional topics more meaningful they must be given, in addition to a change of style, a new spirit, new thinking, and new attitudes that reflect contemporary society. In an article profiling the company's origins, Mr. Wu explained his motivation "All I want to do is to bring Peking Opera together with Western theatrical art. I will not give up Peking Opera [for] it is in my bones. [However] it is very simple, how can Peking Opera survive if we cannot keep our audience? There can be no theatre if there is no audience. Peking Opera is like an antique vase. You cannot break it and make another one. I won‚t say that my works have improved Peking Opera. This art form is already so refined. I'd describe them as new theatre built upon a traditional art form." Since its first production, The Contemporary Legend Theatre has been recognized as a burgeoning creative force that has redefined Taiwanese drama. The company has moved away from Peking Opera‚s core values of minimalism to experiment with language, musical choices, and subject matter. The expressive forms of singing, chanting, acting, face painting, elaborate costuming, acrobatics and stage combat have been adapted to Western classical plays to create a modern sensibility. A critic for The Independent described the results as "a great stylistic break...a rescue operation on behalf of Peking Opera. The physical skills were wonderful and unforgettable." The Contemporary Legend Theatre's first production, The Kingdom of Desire (1986) was an adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth. The play had been transposed from medieval Scotland to a court in Third Century BC China but the famous Macbeth images remain ˆ the bloody hands that cannot be cleansed, the ghost at the banquet, the sleepwalking scene and the concluding fight scene. Following its debut in Taipei, he Kingdom of Desire was honorably invited to London by the Royal National Theatre and well received by English audiences. The Kingdom of Desire has since toured Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Germany, France, Holland, and been featured in the internationally acclaimed Avignon Festival in France. Other productions created and toured by The Contemporary Legend Theatre are War and Eternity (from Shakespeare's Hamlet), Medea, Oresteia, Yin Yang River, and The Last Days of Emperor Lee Yu. This spring, Dimension Performing Arts, Inc. will bring The Contemporary Legend Theatre to the Bay Area for two rare performances of The Kingdom of Desire at the newly renovated California Theatre in San Jose. Featuring WU Hsing-Kuo and WEI Hai-Ming in the title roles, with lighting design by LIN Keh-Hua, one of the most sought after designers in Asia, these must-see performances of The Kingdom of Desire will mark US debut of this extraordinary company. Dimension Performing Arts, Inc. is the only non-performing presenter of Chinese performing arts in the San Francisco South Bay Area. Since 1996, Dimension has been inviting school children to the San Jose Center for Performing Arts to see Celebrations, a series of programs that present master Chinese artists in performance. Over the past eight years 40,000 schoolchildren have attended Celebrations free of charge. In addition to this vital community service, Dimension reaches out to mainstream audiences by presenting touring artists from China and Taiwan, holding various exhibitions, and co-sponsoring cultural events. Home \| News \| Calendar \| Directory \| Library \| Plays Copyright 2005, Roger W. Tang Questions? Email

The Kingdom of Desire

An adaptation of William Shakespeare's Macbeth Performed by The Contemporary Legend Theatre (Taiwan)

An adaptation of William Shakespeare's Macbeth
Performed by The Contemporary Legend Theatre (Taiwan)