- Date: May 27 - 28, 2016
- Venue: Teatros del Canal
- Address: Cea Bermúdez, 1. 28003 Madrid
- Site: www.teatroscanal.com
Taiwan's Contemporary Legend Theatre (當代傳奇劇場), a Peking opera-inspired stage ensemble, brought its rendition of "King Lear (李爾在此)” to Madrid to resounding acclaim.
In this unique reinterpretation of "King Lear,” Contemporary Legend front man Wu Hsin-kuo (吳興國) deftly switches between half a dozen different characters in his one-man "King Lear” drama production.
Audience members included Jaime de los Santos, cultural and communications director of Madrid, and Spanish playwright Albert Boadella, who showed up at the Teatros del Canal to watch Wu simultaneously depict the maniacal Lear and his ally Gloucester, the three daughters, the pitifully lonesome Fool — in short, the entire cast.
2016 marks the 400th anniversary of the passing of Spanish novelist Miguel de Cervantes and British playwright Shakespeare. Contemporary Legend's performances on May 27 and 28 were timed to commemorate the two literary icons.
Wu is the co-founder and artistic director of Contemporary Legend. As a trained professional in classical Peking opera and contemporary dance, he is best known for his reinterpretation of Western classic plays.
Using techniques and elaborate costume concepts from Peking opera, Wu has re-imagined and hyper-stylized Kafka's "Metamorphosis,” as well as three other Shakespearean productions — "The Tempest,” "Hamlet,” and "Macbeth.”
More information on Contemporary Legend Theatre and Wu Hsin-kuo can be found at the Cultural Features section.
