- Chinese Name: 秀琴歌劇團
- Year of Establishment: 1988
- Did You Know That ... ?
- Troupe founder Chang Shiu-kim goes by the nickname of 'Ah Niu (阿牛),' which is an affectionate way of saying 'cow' or 'bull.'
- Site: Facebook Page
At the age of twenty-five, Chang Shiu-kim (張秀琴) set up her eponymous Taiwanese opera troupe to realize the passion of a lifetime. The troupe is known for their promotion of the traditional craft in every part of Taiwan. As the founder of the troupe, Chang is not only a brilliant actress on stage, but a diligent worker inextending the future of the art form.
Chang grew up in a family with an extensive background in Taiwanese opera. Her father was a distinguished costume designer and her mother a famous Taiwanese opera actress who specialized in playing young male leading roles (a role known as "xiao sheng” in Chinese).
Chang was eager to learn the basic techniques at the age of eleven, volunteering to perform so she could hone her skills and emulate the senior performers. Soon, her career began to take off, especially in the medium of television broadcasting. Since then, she has become known as one of the finest "xiao sheng” for her scratchy but powerfully deep voice and handsome acting moves.
In 1988, Chang left behind her burgeoning solo acting career to establish the Shiu-Kim Taiwanese Opera Troupe. The troupe started out in Taichung, but quickly gained fame in the southern part of Taiwan, where they relocated to in the ‘90s. Beginning in 2000, they began showcasing their exquisite performances on public stages nationwide.
In recent years, the troupe sensed that the art of Taiwanese opera wasn't widely accepted among younger generations; to counteract this trend, they added to their performances themes from popular music in Taiwan, as well as more contemporary conceptualizations and costumes, in order to appeal to a wider audience and to provide a more powerful and lively performance of this traditional art form.