Hakka musical "The Water Ghost School and the Otter Who Lost Its Mother" premieres in October, creating a fantastical underwater adventure

A new contemporary musical, "The Water Ghost School and the Otter Who Lost Its Mother," is set to debut in Taipei from October 9 to 11. This production, a collaboration between the Taipei Hakka Affairs Commission, Guts Theatre, and a team of award-winning artists, adapts the classic novel by National Literature Award winner Gan Yao-ming.

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In this musical, the audience doesn't need to view Hakka as a language that 'needs to be deliberately learned,' but rather as a 'mysterious incantation' to enter the fantasy underwater world.

The musical merges the historical backdrop of early Hakka villages with contemporary fantasy aesthetics, crafting an enchanting underwater realm akin to the magical settings in the film "Spirited Away." The narrative follows a group of children who, after a classmate's accidental drowning, imagine and establish a "water ghost school" beneath the surface. This journey delves into themes of friendship, bravery, and the process of redemption.

Director Chang Yang-hsuan highlights the play's innovative use of Hakka language, describing it not as a language to be learned, but as a "mysterious incantation" within the fantasy world. The stage is divided into "above water" and "below water" symbolic spaces. Above the water represents societal restrictions of the era, such as curfews and prohibitions on speaking Hakka, while below the surface signifies absolute freedom of the mind and mother tongue. "Above the water is a repressed society; below the water is absolute freedom interwoven with Hakka," Chang explained.

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Above the water is a repressed society; below the water is absolute freedom interwoven with Hakka.

To ensure accessibility, all performances will feature Chinese subtitles, allowing audiences unfamiliar with Hakka to fully engage with the story. "Just as we appreciate Korean dramas or classic foreign works, language is a mysterious and beautiful color," Chang stated. She believes that even without understanding the language, audiences can be captivated by the plot, while those who understand Hakka can connect with its emotional depth. The stage design, by Chen Liang-ru, winner of the 2025 Rome Design Award, and lighting design by Chen Chung-wen, a two-time Taipei Film Award nominee, promise to create a visually stunning and emotionally resonant underwater experience that blends magical realism with Hakka culture.

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Just as we appreciate Korean dramas or classic foreign works, language is a mysterious and beautiful color.