Dadaocheng Theater Introduction
Dadaocheng Theater is located on the 8th and 9th floors of Yongle Market. Before 1908, it was originally a garden that was transformed into a market during the Japanese colonial period, gathering nearly a thousand fabric shops, making it the largest fabric center in Taiwan. Dadaocheng is also known as the cradle of traditional theater, famously referred to as the "theater cave." The mission of Dadaocheng Theater is to perform, promote, and preserve traditional theater arts. The theater on the 9th floor hosts various traditional theater performances such as Taiwanese opera, Peking opera, Nanguan, Beiguan, Hakka opera, and storytelling, while the performance space on the 8th floor regularly features puppet shows, Nanguan, and storytelling events. The plaza on the first floor organizes cultural arts activities under the theme "Playing in Theater." During the spring and autumn seasons, the venue offers cultural and artistic workshops on theater, tea art, and fabric arts. Free cultural lectures and traditional theater film screenings are also provided. The corridor on the 8th floor houses a permanent exhibition of puppetry and irregular special exhibitions, with guided tours available for groups of ten or more. Various rehearsal rooms and multifunctional presentation rooms are also available for cultural groups to rent. In addition, there are plans for outreach performances in schools, a campus arts education program, and training and performances for a youth Taiwanese opera troupe, aimed at systematically passing on traditional theater and nurturing young talents.
