二十世紀初的臺灣多媒體劇場──日治時期連鎖劇在臺灣

A Multimedia Theatre of the Early 20th Century in Taiwan-Rensageki (Chain Theatre) during the Japanese Colonial Period

Rensageki, literally“chain theatre,”to Taiwanese theatre nowadays, seems a term used long ago. This theatrical form, which combined Japanese shimpa and film, probably originated in Japan in 1897. It was developed by 1913 and spread to Taiwan no later than 1915. In 1923, Taiwanese also organized a chain theatre troupe, Pólâi Company. Chain theatre reached a peak by 1924 and then declined sharply in Japan. In comparison with Japan, by 1937, the year when the Sino-Japanese War broke out, every year there would be a chain theatre troupe visiting Taiwan except 1929, 1931, 1935 and 1936. In other words, chain theatre was still attractive to Taiwanese audiences to some extent while its popularity plummeted in Japan. Many rensageki troupes visited Taiwan during the pre-war period. The troupes often shot scenes in Taiwan while producing works during their visits. It could be viewed as Taiwanization of Japanese rensageki. However, from 1938 to 1945, reports about chain theatre disappeared from newspapers.
In post-war Japan, chain theatre was occasionally played. There were records in 1949, 1959, 1979 and 1980. In Taiwan, chain theatre reappeared in the 1950s, mainly performed by kua-a-hi troupes. However, after the 1960s, chain theatre faded away. Since the form of rensageki consisted of theatre and film, it had to be produced in indoor theatres. Therefore, when the popularity of indoor theatrical plays came to an end after the 1960s, rensageki disappeared in Taiwanese theatre as well.
By the end of the 20th century, chain theatre had become history both in Japan and Taiwan. Nevertheless, video media is adopted in contemporary theatre more and more common. This phenomenon is not limited to drama but extended to other kinds of performing arts. Perhaps contemporary Taiwanese performers or actors hardly know chain theatre, but they unconsciously inherit the innovative and experimental spirit, which was displayed by chain theatre, to connect stage plays with new media during their time. In other words, stage players would undoubtedly come up with the idea to source audio or video materials into stage space. It is also an inevitable trend for the development of theatre since the late 19th century when modern technology launched the invention of all kinds of video and audio media never seen before.