Kaohsiung opens first Taiwanese language acting bootcamp

高雄開設首個台劇培訓班

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — National Sun Yat-sen University’s Department of Theater Arts and Public Television Service’s Taiwanese language channel have partnered to launch the first Taiwanese-language acting program in Kaohsiung.

Trainees aged 16 to 35 will undergo 100 hours of intensive training over three months, according to NSYSU. Depending on participants’ proficiency in Taiwanese, the program will offer professional training in pronunciation, linguistic sense, voice and acting, text interpretation, and related skills. The program will conclude with a graduation performance in January.

Online applications are open until Sept. 7.

Program directors Wu Yi-chen (吳怡瑱), chair of the NSYSU Department of Theater Arts, and Associate Professor Yang Shih-ping (楊士平) said mastering the rhythm and feel of Taiwanese is crucial for performance. Since Taiwanese grammar differs from Mandarin, direct translation often makes dialogue sound like a “foreign script” and unnatural, they said.

To avoid alienating audiences, colloquial translation must account for context and cultural norms. Wu and Yang welcomed the collaboration with PTS’ Taiwanese channel, calling it an innovative model for cultivating Taiwanese drama talent.

They also expressed hope that Taiwan’s film and television industry will continue working with universities to nurture future performers.