An eclectic Taiwan-based theater troupe has crafted a multicultural production inspired by a classical Indian text and Peking opera. Ahead of their presentation in New Delhi at one of Asia's largest theater festivals, they performed for theater-lovers in Miaoli, for one night only.
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00:00Bringing classical Indian literature to life for an audience in Taiwan.
00:28This eclectic Taiwan-based theater troupe that goes by X Theater Asia has made an impression
00:33here in Miaoli, after they put on a spellbinding performance for the city's theater lovers.
00:45The play, entitled Kerna, is inspired by the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata, considered one
00:50of ancient India's most important texts.
00:53It's a story of war, power, and Hindu philosophy.
00:57The performers say it's a source text that gave them a lot to work with.
01:02Mahabharata is an epic, is an Indian epic, and it has so many dramatic portions, so many
01:10dramatic elements that it is actually a treat for theater makers.
01:16It is a huge text, no doubt.
01:19Each and every chapter, or even each and every character, could be a whole play in itself.
01:25Kerna, go, go, go!
01:32The ensemble first came together in 2006, with the goal of pushing the boundaries of
01:37contemporary theater and fostering cross-cultural ties.
01:41The India, or the Indian culture, or the Chinese culture, the Taiwanese culture, all is quite
01:47rich culture, but we have a very seldom, we seldom have the chance to collaborate and
01:51know each other.
01:52So I think that this is a good chance, I think that we can see what are the similarities
01:57and what are the differences, and there can come a new language of theater.
02:07This production does more than just bring together performers from Taiwan and India.
02:12It also blends cultures, incorporating elements of Peking opera.
02:22The performers say they rehearse tirelessly, learning from each other's theater traditions,
02:35to create this experimental fusion.
02:37Whether it is in music, in the body, or even in breathing, we try to find some fusion.
02:43I think fusion is to understand each other, and to find that tacit understanding.
02:47It really takes a long time.
02:50More than one month, we practice the Chinese opera and the other forms also here, and that's
02:58how we engaged with this Chinese opera and Chinese music, Chinese theater, with X Theater,
03:05and we did the performance.
03:15Now after performing in central Taiwan for one night only, they're looking forward to
03:20showcasing this collaborative India-Taiwan production at New Delhi's annual National
03:24Theater Festival, one of Asia's largest events of its kind.
03:29And with the opportunity to perform on an even bigger platform, they hope to widen their
03:34audiences for their multicultural and fresh take on an Indian classic.