Wu Hsing-kuo
Encyclopedia
Wu Hsing-kuo is a Taiwan
ese actor of the silver screen and theater, known for both his performance of complex movie roles as much as for his innovative adaptations of Western classics into traditional Peking Opera.
Wu was trained in classical Peking Opera since the age of 11 in Taiwan
's state-run Fu-Hsing Chinese Opera School, specializing in wu sheng (male martial) roles. He was admitted with honors into the Theatre Department of Chinese Culture University
in Taipei
, trained under master Chou Cheng-jung (Zhou Zheng-rong) and became leading dancer of Lin Hwai-min
's Cloud Gate Dance Theatre.
In 1986, he and a group of enthusiastic friends founded the Contemporary Legend Theatre (當代傳奇劇場) in Taipei
, seeking to revitalize traditional Chinese theatre by adapting Western classical plays to the style and techniques of Peking Opera. He was the leading actor and director of four Shakespeare adaptations, including the critically acclaimed Kingdom of Desire (慾望城國), an adaptation of Macbeth
, and King Lear (李爾在此), in which Wu plays all the parts.
In 1992, Wu was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study in New York with Richard Schechner. That year, he also won the Hong Kong Film Award for best new actor.
Wu is currently artistic director of the Contemporary Legend Theatre, and continues to take on challenging roles in both the modern theatre and Chinese Opera. He crosses the fields of traditional opera, dance, modern theatre, cinema, and television.
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
ese actor of the silver screen and theater, known for both his performance of complex movie roles as much as for his innovative adaptations of Western classics into traditional Peking Opera.
Wu was trained in classical Peking Opera since the age of 11 in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
's state-run Fu-Hsing Chinese Opera School, specializing in wu sheng (male martial) roles. He was admitted with honors into the Theatre Department of Chinese Culture University
Chinese Culture University
Chinese Culture University is a private, Taiwanese university located on Yang Ming Mountain in the Shilin District of Taipei, Taiwan. CCU was established in 1962 and is one of the largest universities in Taiwan with an enrollment of about 32,000 students...
in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
, trained under master Chou Cheng-jung (Zhou Zheng-rong) and became leading dancer of Lin Hwai-min
Lin Hwai-min
Lin Hwai-min is a Taiwanese dancer, writer, choreographer, and founder of Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan. He was educated at National Chengchi University in Taiwan and University of Iowa in the US....
's Cloud Gate Dance Theatre.
In 1986, he and a group of enthusiastic friends founded the Contemporary Legend Theatre (當代傳奇劇場) in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
, seeking to revitalize traditional Chinese theatre by adapting Western classical plays to the style and techniques of Peking Opera. He was the leading actor and director of four Shakespeare adaptations, including the critically acclaimed Kingdom of Desire (慾望城國), an adaptation of Macbeth
Macbeth
The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
, and King Lear (李爾在此), in which Wu plays all the parts.
In 1992, Wu was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study in New York with Richard Schechner. That year, he also won the Hong Kong Film Award for best new actor.
Wu is currently artistic director of the Contemporary Legend Theatre, and continues to take on challenging roles in both the modern theatre and Chinese Opera. He crosses the fields of traditional opera, dance, modern theatre, cinema, and television.
Filmography
- Master Swordsman Lu XiaofengMaster Swordsman Lu XiaofengMaster Swordsman Lu Xiaofeng is a television series adapted from Gu Long's Lu Xiaofeng novel series. The series was first broadcast in early 2001...
(2001) - Ye Gucheng - The Accidental SpyThe Accidental SpyThe Accidental Spy is a 2001 Hong Kong martial arts action film, starring Jackie Chan and directed by Teddy Chan. Filming took place in Istanbul....
(2001) - Lee Sang-Zen - The Soong SistersThe Soong Sisters (film)The Soong Sisters is a 1997 Hong Kong film dramatization of the lives of the Soong sisters from 1911 to 1949. The three sisters married the most important historical figures during the founding of new China, making the family the focal point of every important major decision made in modern...
(1997) - Chiang Kai-shekChiang Kai-shekChiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin.... - Shanghai GrandShanghai GrandShanghai Grand, also known as Shanghai Grand 1996 to differentiate this film from the more illustrious television series of the same Chinese title, The Bund , is a 1996 Hong Kong film directed by Poon Man-kit and starring Andy Lau, Leslie Cheung and Ning Jing.This film was directed by Poon Man-kit...
(1996) - Fung King-Yiu - God of Gamblers ReturnsGod of Gamblers ReturnsGod of Gamblers Returns , also known as God of Gamblers' Return and The Return of the God of Gamblers , is a 1994 Hong Kong action-drama-comedy film written and directed by Wong Jing. It starred Chow Yun-fat, Wu Chien-Lien, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Chingmy Yau, Cheung Man, and Charles Heung...
(1994) - Chao Siu Chi/'The Devil of Gamblers' - Red Rose White Rose (1994)
- Rock n'Roll Cop (1994) - Captain Wong Kun
- What Price Survival (1994) - Wang Ning
- The Great Conqueror's ConcubineThe Great Conqueror's ConcubineThe Great Conqueror's Concubine, alternatively known as King of Western Chu, is a historical drama film directed by Stephen Shin and Wei Handao, starring Ray Lui, Rosamund Kwan, Zhang Fengyi and Gong Li...
(1994) - Yu Ziqi - Green SnakeGreen SnakeGreen Snake is a 1993 Hong Kong fantasy film made by Tsui Hark. It is the adaptation of a novel of the same title by Lilian Lee....
(1993) - Hsui Xien (Xu Xian), the scholar - Temptation of a MonkTemptation of a MonkTemptation of A Monk is a 1993 Chinese language film starring Joan Chen and directed by Clara Law.-External links:*...
(1993) - General Shi Yan-sheng / Jing-yi - Shi ba (1993)
Awards
- Awarded Best New Performer at the Hong Kong Film AwardsHong Kong Film AwardsThe Hong Kong Film Awards , founded in 1982, are the most prestigious film awards in Hong Kong and among the most respected in mainland China and Taiwan. Award ceremonies are held annually, typically in April. The Awards recognize achievement in all aspects of filmmaking, such as directing,...
in (1992). - Nominated for Best Actor at the 13th Hong Kong Film Awards13th Hong Kong Film AwardsCeremony for the 13th Hong Kong Film Awards was held in 1994.-Best Film:-Best Director:-Best Screenplay:-Best Actor:-Best Actress:-Best Supporting Actor:-Best Supporting Actress:-Best New Performer:-Best Cinematography:...
(1994) for his role in Temptation of a MonkTemptation of a MonkTemptation of A Monk is a 1993 Chinese language film starring Joan Chen and directed by Clara Law.-External links:*...