International Exchange and Academic Outreach
One aspect of our continuing endeavor to provide an excellent arts research and learning environment is the publishing aim of our department. Aside from publishing interrelated books on theatrical subjects, since 2004 our department has also published the biannual Taipei Theatre Journal (《戲劇學刊》). The department also participates in many academic seminars and international exchanges. Some of our most notable activities of the last three years include:
- Conducting seminars such as the “International Conference on Lai Sheng-chuan’s (Stan Lai) Works”(2006), “Reworking Taiwan’s Theatrical Turmoil: International Conference on the Works of Yao Yi-Wei”(2007), “Bicoastal Theatre Education Conference and Forum”(2007), as well as “Theatre Points: National Doctoral and Masters Theatre Arts and Reading Conference”(2008), and the “National Doctoral and Masters Theatre Arts and Reading Conference,”(2009).
- Inviting distinguished instructors such as Beijing Opera master Bau-Jao Mei (梅葆玖), Beijing Opera diva Hai-min Wei (魏海敏), Honan Opera queen Hai-lin Wang (王海玲), and the distinguished martial arts actor Liu-hao Zhu (朱陸豪). In addition, we have also had several international masters like the director of France’s Theatre du Soleil Les Ephemeres, Ariane Mnouchkine, Odin Teatret’s director Eugenio Barba, and the British performance arts master Julia Varley. Cinema master director Ming-liang Tsai (蔡明亮) and actor Kang-sheng Lee (李康生), as well as Shanghai playwright Lusheng Tsao (曹路生), American professor Dr. Lissa Tyler Renaud and Dr. Howard Blanning and dance artist Feng-Hsiang Chang (張鳳翔) have also all conducted workshops, lectures or classes at our school.
- In March 2009, eleven members of the Department of Theatre Arts, as well as the Graduate Institute of Performance Arts, travelled to Holstebro, Denmark to take part in Odin Teatret’s 10-day Odin Week. In addition, in October 2008, the department’s production of Taiwanese playwright Cheng-Ju Shan ’s Letters Received in Happiness (《收信快樂》) was performed in the first session of Shanghai’s Campus Theatre Festival and Competition. While there, the production received second place in the Chinese Theatre category (the equivalent of the Chinese Plum Blossom Award for Drama). The two lead actors, Sini Wen (溫思妮) and Junyan Chen (陳俊言) accomplished even higher feats, garnering the most votes to win first and second place respectively in the Campus Theatre Star Performance category. Because of the troupe’s exceptional showing, Taipei University of the Arts also captured the prize for Outstanding Group at the festival.
