PRODUCTION Betrayal [Beipan]
Data Type：production background
Title：About the Department of Chinese Drama
Source：Betrayal Performance Program
Place：Taipei
Publisher：Chinese Culture University, Department of Chinese Drama [Zhongguo wenhua daxue zhongguo xiju xuexi]
Date：2013
Language：English
Abstract：department introduction
The Department of Chinese Drama inherits the spirit of its founder Dr. Chang Chi-yun who advances the academic research of Peking opera and takes the national treasure to the world. It is one of the earliest instituted departments within the University. The four-year undergraduate program was launched in 1963 under the approval of the Ministry of Education. Up until now, the program has taken several stages of reformation. In 1964, it was separated into two divisions, Western Theater and Chinese Drama. Afive-year Chinese Drama major was introduced in 1967. In 1973, it was reformed once more into the Department of Drama with two divisions, Chinese Drama and Media Performance. Eventually the Department of Chinese Drama was set apart and officially launched in 1997.
Our department began with teaching one particular theater: Peking opera, then reorient the program into its later curriculum in accordance with significant social and cultural changes, as well as the transforming learning environment of the students. After thorough reviewing and re-planning of the program by the entire faculty, a new vision was given birth. Based on Chinese theater traditions, the faculty developed new ways of thinking which were based on theories in art production. They summed up various elements of performance within traditional Chinese theater, and developed a teaching and production method consists of features of traditional opera performance. The program was divided into three groups: performance, directing, and scriptwriting. Consequently, a coherent curriculum of four years’ academic program was launched, based on the performance elements of actor training and those of traditional opera, including singing, speech, acting, and acrobatics. The faculty has henceforth established an effective training system in the performance of traditional opera and its fundamental theories and knowledge.
Throughout several stages of reforms and modifications; it has been affirmed that, since the start of 2003, the curriculum that our program generated is productive. Prospectively, our department will keep in line with our spirit of reform. The faculty will continue to advance the academic program and devote in imparting the culture to the next generation and nurturing theater talents. We expect the students of our program to be able to grasp essence of performance and production. They will be able to freely develop their individual talents and demonstrate their creativity in diverse facets of theatre production.
Our department began with teaching one particular theater: Peking opera, then reorient the program into its later curriculum in accordance with significant social and cultural changes, as well as the transforming learning environment of the students. After thorough reviewing and re-planning of the program by the entire faculty, a new vision was given birth. Based on Chinese theater traditions, the faculty developed new ways of thinking which were based on theories in art production. They summed up various elements of performance within traditional Chinese theater, and developed a teaching and production method consists of features of traditional opera performance. The program was divided into three groups: performance, directing, and scriptwriting. Consequently, a coherent curriculum of four years’ academic program was launched, based on the performance elements of actor training and those of traditional opera, including singing, speech, acting, and acrobatics. The faculty has henceforth established an effective training system in the performance of traditional opera and its fundamental theories and knowledge.
Throughout several stages of reforms and modifications; it has been affirmed that, since the start of 2003, the curriculum that our program generated is productive. Prospectively, our department will keep in line with our spirit of reform. The faculty will continue to advance the academic program and devote in imparting the culture to the next generation and nurturing theater talents. We expect the students of our program to be able to grasp essence of performance and production. They will be able to freely develop their individual talents and demonstrate their creativity in diverse facets of theatre production.
