- Chinese Name: 江之翠劇場
- Year of Establishment: 1993
- Behind the Name:
- 'Gang a Tsui (江之翠)' is a homophone of 'Gang a Tsui (港仔嘴),'the old name for New Taipei's Banqiao District (板橋).
- Site: Facebook Page
The Gang-A-Tsui Theater Nanguan Music Ensemble was founded on Jan. 1, 1993. The current manager, Chou Yih-chang, whose background is in directing and theater, was invited by the Cultural Division of Taipei County (now known as 'New Taipei')to establish the art group.
One of the ensemble's primary goals is to preserve and promote not only nanguan, but also nanguan opera ("liyuan”), which is performed against a backdrop of nanguan music. Above all, the ensemble aims to experiment with modern theater techniques that can connect current-day audiences with the beauty of the ancient art.
In addition to theater and nanguan music, Gang-A-Tsui has a sub-group trained to perform beiguan music. The terms "beiguan” and "nanguan” are literally translated as northern and southern pipe instruments, respectively; beiguan is composed mostly of percussion instruments, and nanguan are those of string and wind, such as the four-stringed pipa and the trumpet-like suona.
Chou has introduced the concept of "modernizing nanguan,” which takes the interactive elements of avant-garde theater and partners them with the more serene nanguan music. This hybrid art form successfully debuted in 1995with the performance of a medley of nanguan opera titles.
Gang-A-Tsui is a pioneer in adopting movements from nanguan opera, and uses innovative elements like a Tang Dynasty style of costume design and refined makeup techniques. In 2006, they performed a grand overview of their works and also scripted their first original play.
Today, the Gang-A-Tsui Nanguan Music Ensemble generally focuses on softer melodies, concentrating on the nanguan style. Interestingly, the performers also are trained in Tai Chi and other meditative techniques like qigong to help them to express the true essence of the graceful and beautifully composed nanguan opera.
Gang-A-Tsui has also taken part in the Nanguan Opera Heritage Conservation Project, which isunder the auspices of the National Center for Traditional Arts, since 1997. With the support of both the public and private sector, they have continued to inject new energy into nanguan, and their contributions are now widely recognized.