It chronicles a young boy embarking on his rite of passage into adulthood, enduring the volatile shifts of nature and the trials of ancestral spirits, while learning to converse with all living things. Utilizing traditional Indigenous instruments such as the nose flute and jaw harp, combined with his resonant chants in his mother tongue, Sangpuy weaves his artistry with the profound drumming and theatrical craft of U-Theatre. Together, they guide the youth through the deep forests and into the homeland of the divine spirits, unveiling the warrior’s winding life journey in a grand chorus with the earth. The sacred call of indigenous languages and the earth-shattering drumbeats celebrate both the growth of the young warrior and a bountiful harvest.
"The quietest heart, the most powerful performance—offering you a hundred percent of every minute."
— Artistic Director of the Bergen International Festival, Norway
"This extraordinary drumming work possesses a multi-layered performative beauty, encompassing sound, silence, simple strikes, and complex, precise rhythms. Their spirit of concentration is deeply impressive; from the very beginning, one can sense their absolute purity."
— The New York Times, USA
1998 Festival d'Avignon: Acclaimed by all as the "U-People" from Taiwan, they were voted the best performance troupe, with their signature masterpiece Sound of the Ocean recognized as the finest program.
2000 Lyon Biennale de la Danse: Sound of the Ocean won the Most Popular Program Award.
“A magical pulsation from Taiwan.” — Il Gazzettino, Venice
Inheriting ancient Eastern culture and blending it with contemporary theatrical elements through "the power derived from the earth," they have forged a unique and singular "U-Theatre Aesthetic."
"U" : In traditional Chinese theatre, it signifies a "performer." Thus,
"U-People" means people who perform.
"Shen" : Represents a state of absolute tranquility and selflessness achieved under profound concentration.
"U-Theatre" : Literally translates to "Drumming in One's Own Total Peace."
Founded in 1988 on Laoquan Mountain in Muzha, Taipei, U-Theatre was established by founder Liu Ruo-Yu, who carried forward the physical training methodologies of the Polish theatre master Jerzy Grotowski. In 1993, she invited Huang Chih-Chun to serve as the drumming master. Together, they established the foundational training and performance format based on the core principle: "Learn meditation first, then teach drumming."
This unique training regimen ensures that every single drumbeat struck by U-Theatre resonates with an exceptional sense of stability and serenity—a characteristic that sharply distinguishes them from other percussion ensembles.
Since its inception, the troupe has been dedicated to presenting the most exquisite artistic quality, steadfastly walking a performance path that integrates "Tao —the pursuit of the fundamental meaning of life" with "Art —the realization of life aesthetics." U-Theatre continues to interact with the world through a stabilizing and comforting force, responding to the shifts of the era and the yearnings of the human heart by "drumming in one's own total peace."
Through this distinctive theatre aesthetic, they transcend the barriers of music, drama, and dance. By means of drumming, they transmit this profound tranquility to the audience, collectively anchoring a moment of "living in the present" to construct a sustainable future for culture and the environment.
The organizers reserve the right to make final changes to the program. Please refer to on-site and official website announcements for updates.
