Shan Wan Ran Hakka Puppet Troupe Introduction
The Shanwanran Theater was founded in 2002 by Huang Wushan. He learned traditional puppetry techniques from Li Tianlu's sons, Chen Xihuang and Li Chuancan, who are national treasure puppet masters. In 2003, he graduated from National Taipei University of the Arts with a focus on theater arts, also understanding the efforts of his mentors in passing down their craft. He studied Hakka mountain songs under the Hakka song goddess Lai Bixia, infusing Hakka culture into traditional puppetry. He has become one of the few young talents in Taiwan with professional performing abilities in traditional puppetry and a foundation in theatrical academic theory, preserving the flame of traditional puppet theater. The Shanwanran Theater deeply understands the importance of Hakka cultural inheritance and currently focuses on production and performance while actively participating in various art festivals. They are also beginning to plan courses that combine Hakka drama, Hakka puppetry, and Hakka music. By utilizing the lively and vivid performance style of puppetry, they aim to attract the younger Hakka community to appreciate Hakka cultural arts, revive the Hakka spirit, and even help non-Hakka groups understand the diversity and inclusiveness of Hakka culture.
