Ming Hwa Yuan Arts & Cultural Group Final Bow
12/21(Sat)19:3012/22(Sun)14:30
“And just like that, the play is over!” Taiwan’s high school Chinese literature course staple, Final Bow, a short story by nativist literature author HUNG Hsing-fu, is coming to the stage!
Ming Hwa Yuan Arts and Cultural Group, in collaboration with director HUANG Chih-kai, has reimagined the story in a comedic style, creating a cross-genre theatrical piece that evokes both laughter and tears. The production features a play-within-a-play, a fabled marriage dilemma from Song Dynasty CHEN Shimei and QIN Xianglian, with progressively absurd performances highlighting the improvisational essence of traditional Taiwanese opera. Through the memories of the female protagonist, Xiu-jie, the play recounts the golden era of indoor Taiwanese opera theaters in the 1960s and 70s, and its subsequent decline to outdoor itinerant stages. It also explores the impact of the burgeoning film and television industry at the time, which left the performers and producers of Taiwanese opera struggling to adapt.
First performed in 2016 to critical acclaim, Final Bow achieved significant box office success. In 2024, to celebrate Ming Hwa Yuan’s 95th anniversary, this production, which portrays the century-long rise and fall of Taiwanese opera, pays tribute to the golden years and the pioneers of the genre. The play seamlessly blends traditional and contemporary theatrical techniques, using a revolving stage to switch between the onstage and backstage worlds of the “Yushan Opera Troupe.” This interplay of reality and performance allows the audience to experience the sentiment of “acting out others’ stories on stage while shedding one’s own tears,” as the onstage and offstage events intertwine to create a tragic yet comical drama of the era.
Artistic Director / CHEN Sheng-fu
As the leader of the Ming Hwa Yuan Arts and Cultural Group, CHEN Sheng-fu has spearheaded major reforms in the artistic, marketing, and technical domains within the group, revitalizing Taiwanese opera. Through innovative performances, he has led the group to garner attention and acclaim from scholars and audiences alike, breathing new life into this waning art form. Furthermore, he has actively expanded the artistic landscape, elevating Taiwanese opera to national theaters and international stages.
Producer / CHEN Chao-hsien
As the third-generation successor of Ming Hwa Yuan, CHEN Chao-hsien has been trained in folk dance and ballet since childhood. She has choreographed many of Ming Hwa Yuan’s productions, blending elements of folk, modern, and ballet dance into traditional postures, injecting new vitality into Taiwanese opera. Since 2018, she has served as the group’s drama producer, incorporating Taiwanese legends from literature, manga, and other local stories into their works, actively expanding the audience to include younger generations.
Playwright & Director / HUANG Chih-kai
HUANG Chih-kai is the Artistic Director of Storyworks and a graduate of the inaugural class of the Department of Drama and Theatre at National Taiwan University. He previously directed for the Ping-Fong Acting Troupe, training under legendary late LEE Kuo-hsiu for 11 years. With a preference for viewing life through a funhouse mirror, he embraces a bold and innovative style, excelling at pushing characters to the brink of dramatic situations to reveal human values and emotions. In recent years, he has ventured into adaptations and cross-genre projects in addition to creating original works. He has collaborated with Ming Hwa Yuan Arts & Cultural Group on several highly acclaimed productions, including Final Bow, Lin Shao Mao: Taiwanese Knight-errant, Zheng ZhiLong, The Pirate King of Formosa, and The Legend of Babao Irrigation Canal.
Ming Hwa Yuan Arts & Cultural Group
Ming Hwa Yuan Arts & Cultural Group
Ming Hwa Yuan Arts & Cultural Group
Ming Hwa Yuan Arts & Cultural Group
Ming Hwa Yuan Arts & Cultural Group
Founded in 1929, this artistic family has dedicated itself to the art of Taiwanese opera, blending traditional foundations with contemporary elements. It is the only Taiwanese opera group in Taiwan with its own exclusive directors and a full roster of actors. Every member of the artistic family is fully committed to the performance art of Taiwanese opera, boasting a strong production and performance team and a unique Eastern artistic style. They have become a significant legend in Taiwan’s performing arts scene.
Performer / SUN Tsui-feng, CHEN Jhao-ting, SU Yun-he, HUANG Jin-wun, LI Yu -jhen, CHEN Zih-hao, GAO Yu-shan, LIN Mu-sen, CIOU,Yi-fong
Artistic Director / CHEN Sheng-fu
Producer / CHEN Chao-hsien
Playwright and Director / HUANG Chih-kai
Stage Design / CHEN Hui
Set Construction / Fuda Stage Scenery, ADA Studio, Yisheng Painting Pavilion
Video Design / CHEN Chien-jung
Animation Production / CHEN Wei-cheng, CHUANG Chun
Illustration / CHANG Yi-hsin
Lighting Design / CHEN Wei-an
Music Design / HSU Wen
Vocal Design / CHEN Chih-sheng
Costume Design (Modern Fashion) / LI Fu-chen
Ming Hwa Yuan Arts & Cultural Group Final Bow
Theater
Approx. 190 minutes with a 20-minute intermission
NTT Member pre-order from 1st August.
Tickets available from 8th August.
Early Bird Discount
From 1st to 8th August, 25% off regular ticket price for NTT Members.
No limits on price categories and amount of tickets.
Other Discounts
10% - 25% off for NTT membership holders.
10% off for National Theater and Concert Hall, National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying) and National Symphony Orchestra membership holders.
10% off for CTBC Bank, E.SUN Commercial Bank and Taishin International Bank, Bank SinoPac and Taipei Fubon Bank credit card holders.
50% off for disabled persons plus one companion, and senior citizens 65 or above (ID required at entrance).
25% off group ticket price for groups of 20 or more per program.
※Only one discount may apply per purchase.
※Approx. 190 minutes with a 20-minute intermission.
※Suggested for ages 7 and above.
※Performed in Taiwanese with Chinese and English surtitles