Sword of Wisdom by U-Theatre from Taiwan

Artists of U-Theatre

Founder/Artistic Director

Ruo-yu Liu, Liu was the principle actor with the Lan Ling Theatre Workshop in the early 1980s and went on to study for a Master of Arts degree at New York University in 1983. Two years later, she was chosen to take part in a year-long Jerzy Grotowski workshop, which led her to an abiding interest in the underlying principles of drama. After returning to Taiwan, Liu formed U Theatre in 1988, initially focusing on popular ritual ceremonies and folk performing arts, she later introduced Taichi exercises and physical training for the Theatre’s performers in the strong belief that these were part of the process of awakening the self. In 1993, she invited Huang Chi-chun to join the company and brought together drumming, meditation and martial arts.

Music Director

Chih-chun Huang, Born in Malaysia, Huang studied drumming from the age of six and martial arts from the age 10. As a member of the Taipei Folk Dance Company and the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, he has toured many countries. In early 1993, he traveled to India to study meditation and the wisdom behind “living here and now”. Since then, he has become a frequent visitor to India and Tibet. Also in 1993, he was invited by Liu Ruo-yu to instruct U-Theatre performers in drumming and meditation in order to set the foundation for its style of integrating drums with martial arts. Huang sees the realm of performance as being no different from meditation-both “living here and now”. He believe that “performing is not a strength directed outwards; it’ a search within the self.”

Set/Lighting Designer

Lin Keh-Hua, one of the most celebrated lighting and set designers in the Chinese speaking world. His designs employ Western aesthetics and modern technology blended with Oriental philosophy, to create a performing space that supports the performers, enriches the content, and is eye-catching to viewers that make him received increasing recognition among the world leading choreographers and other performing artists. Lin is a professor of lighting design at National Institute of the Arts in Taipei and the foremost theatre consultant in Taiwan, and has been the principle designer for acclaimed Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan since 1981.

Costume Designer

Tim Yip, Yip has been involved with costume and art design in many movies and theatrical performances and has cooperated with award winning directors from Hong Kong, Taiwan and China. Tim Yip’s achievements have won him global applause and world status. His works have not only merged modern and classic art forms in various fields, but are also perfect combinations of art and living. In 2001, he was honored with Best Art Director at Academy Award (Oscar) and Best Costume Designer at the British Academy Film Awards by “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”.

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