Coming from a Liyuan opera (梨園劇) family, Yan has familiarized herself with traditional opera forms and went to Europe to study with theater masters such as Monika Pagneux, one of Europe's foremost teachers of movement for the theater. Her works are the expressive synthesis of Western modern theater and Chinese opera, and to her mind, the performers of the traditional performing art can best illustrate the concept and practice of a total actor.
When asked about the challenges a solo performer has to face and overcome, Yan said: "In a solo performance, all the focus, creation, story, expression and imagination is on you. You are all alone. You have to fight against yourself, understand your own limits, but at the same time keep on pushing and expanding. It requires lots of courage and wisdom, but great satisfaction will come."
A scriptwriter, director, actress and teacher, the versatile female artist co-founded the Theatre Ensemble with her husband in 1993. Over the years, the troupe has built up a repertoire of more than 30 pieces.
As Yan explains, "In physical theater,
language is not the dominant expressive element but bodies, and the textures, gestures, and movements of the bodies. All our creations start from the rehearsal room without a fixed script."
In You Yuan, the audience will not only find the stylistic physical theater that pleases the senses, but a sincere and honest attempt from an artist to speak of the concreteness of life and the human condition.
FOR YOUR INFORMATIOIN
● What: You Yuan (遊園) by Theatre Ensemble
● Where: National Experimental Theater (國家實驗劇場) 21-1, Zhongshan S Rd, Taipei (台北市中山南路21-1號)
● When: April 20 and 21 at 7:30pm
April 22 at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
April 23 at 2:30pm
● Tickets: NT$500, available through NTCH ticket outlets or at www.artsticket.com.tw
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