Minister Yiong expressed that tea-picking opera is a drama genre native to Taiwan. Legend of Lan-Fong tells the real-life story of Low Lan-Pak, an early Hakka pioneer leading a group of people to Borneo to cultivate land and hunt for gold. This year, the show is collaborating with the Hakka Expo for the first time to transport audiences to Borneo in Southeast Asia and recount how Hakka people built a self-ruled republic there, arguably even the first republic in the region. The mettle and self-governance displayed by the characters and their initial interactions with the British and the Dutch bear witness to the global identity of Hakka people.
Cheng Rom-shing stated that Legend of Lan-Fong is the first to use a combination of Hokkien and Dabu Hakka. Airs in the Dabu dialect are especially included alongside original tunes of Hakka tea-picking opera, and elements of traditional Indonesian dance serve as inspiration to deliver an atmosphere unique to the pioneering era in Borneo. Reference information comprises animal bones and wild bird feathers to showcase the status of different ethnic groups. Wang Yi-Sheng, multiple-time winner of World Stage Design, was invited to craft the visual design for the stage. This series of innovations opens up infinite possibilities for traditional Hakka musical theater.
Rom Shing Hakka Opera Troupe has been nominated for the Golden Melody Awards for Traditional Arts and Music (GMATAM) every year between 2014 and 2022, accumulating 10 trophies. Director Hu Chen-Yu asked Su Kuo-Ching, winner of the Best Individual Performance New Show Award at the 31st GMATAM, and Chen Si-Peng, shortlisted for the same award at the 29th GMATAM, to share the stage with and lead dozens of young performers. Not only does it ensure transmission of the art, but it also guarantees a stunning performance.
