Teaching the stage in a different way

"We want to raise awareness within the domestic theater industry about the importance of stage technology," Liao says. "It's a specialized field that requires expertise. We need trained professionals to bring theater to life. I hope these students will one day take over the work I do on stage production."

The teaching building was originally a department store. After six months of renovations, Liao turned the space into the aforementioned "dream-making space" for students.

At 60, the "chief dream maker" is affectionately called Liao Ye (Grandpa Liao) by the students. He has a chivalrous spirit and a touch of childlike enthusiasm.

He oversaw the design of every detail, personally selecting each piece of furniture, from the desks and chairs to the trash cans. The chairs in the meeting room are colorful, and the lighting in each room is tailored to the specific function of the space. Even the indicator lights at the entrance of the recording studio, the fonts above them, and the color temperature of the lighting were all carefully decided by Liao.

Apart from a conventional lecture hall, the other classes are held in dedicated studios, including international-standard set design, costume practice, and woodworking studios. Liao has thoughtfully arranged everything in these spaces, including the storage of teaching materials.

A romantic at heart, his design for the dream-making space is filled with small, poetic touches — from the gaps between the shelves in the library and the angles at which sunlight filters through the windows to the gradient painted wall and the piano key-like seats on the balcony.