Jin Kwei Lo Puppetry Company
Tradition is contemporary
Tradition is contemporary
Jin Kwei Lo Puppetry Company is one of the few Taiwanese theatres with 3 generations. The founder Chiang Szu-mei is one of the first generations of female traditional palmar drama puppeteers, now still working in the field of puppet theatre in the age of 90. Her son Ko Chia-tsai is also an important figure in Taiwanese palmar drama theatre. He learnt palmar drama since childhood, and had worked as a palmar drama artist for over 50 years.
The third generation Ko Shih-Hung and Ko Shih-Hua took up the art of palmar drama and participated in local and international art festivals while researching on world puppetry. They mean to pass on the delicate art of Taiwanese palmer drama and at the same time learn western puppetry, hoping to discover new possibilities of palmar drama in the clash of traditional and modern puppetry. In Recent years, their experiment on cross-field, cross-media performance had been well received and praised by the audience. The three generations are highly respected in traditional puppet art community in Taiwan for their effort to preserve and transform the art.
The Soup of Reincarnation
In Buddhism and Taoism culture, Meng Po is a legendary figure. Every soul await reincarnation will have to meet her and drink up the reincarnation soup she offers.
The Soup of Reincarnation
Meng Po awaits age long beside river Lethe in the underworld. Through her eyes, we see entangled love and resentment from exceptional female Chinese Opera characters Wang Bao-chuan , Pan Jin-lian, and Bai Su-zhen. The puppeteer’s hands compose a rhythm of life, oblivion, and rebirth.
In Buddhism and Taoism culture, Meng Po is a legendary figure. Every soul await reincarnation will have to meet her and drink up the reincarnation soup she offers. By forgetting memories of their previous lives, Meng Po ensures these souls are ready for rebirth. In Chinese mythology, Meng Po is the manager of oblivion and gatekeeper of the underworld.
Traditional Hand puppeteers’ work is similar to Meng Po’s mission. By changing suitable clothes and make-ups by the Traditional Hand puppeteers, one Traditional Hand puppet can transform to into several characters in each shows again and again. This infinite loop symbolizes that the Traditional Hand puppets experience reincarnation as well. The story of Meng Po tangles with how this story is conveyed through the same concept of reincarnation.
Drama Artist Consultant: Chiang Szu-mei
Drama Consultant：Ko Chia-Tsai
Director: Cheng Chia-Yin
Playwright: Ching Fu-Chin, Ko Shih-Hing
The Potion of Reincarnation ingeniously integrates Taiwanese drama and western puppet theatre. The mythical power is still vivid in the mind, and every little story becomes extremely lively.
—Jean Talabot, Le Figaro
Taiwanese Puppet theatre enchants audience” The Potion of Reincarnation presents a magical, surprising live performance that merges tradition and modern concepts.
—G. R., l’Humanité
Festival de Casteliers 2022, Montreal, Canada