Showtime Taiwan: The Sapphire Show
Through a book, a documentary, and a concert series, audiences are invited to step into the golden age of Kaohsiung’s show culture.
The Sapphires Big Cabaret Stage in Kaohsiung stands as a powerful symbol of the city’s musical memory and a cultural landmark that carries both the spirit of popular entertainment and the elegance of its era. From the variety show stages of Taiwan’s economic boom to today’s concert experiences shared by three generations of fans, the Sapphire has witnessed the evolution of Taiwan’s pop music and entertainment industry, while also tracing the transformations of Kaohsiung’s urban life and cultural landscape.
For many residents of Kaohsiung, the Sapphire is more than just a performance venue. It is a deeply rooted piece of collective memory. Once a stage graced by countless stars, it offered audiences their first close encounters with celebrities and live performances, allowing singing, comedy, and variety shows to flourish with a uniquely Southern Taiwanese charm. This cultural energy, born from everyday life, has shaped a significant chapter in Taiwan’s show culture and remains a treasured cultural asset of the city.
Marking the fifth anniversary of the Kaohsiung Music Center in 2026, a special “Sapphire Trilogy” project has been launched, revisiting this shared cultural history through three formats: a concert, a publication, and a documentary. By weaving together live performance, historical preservation, and visual storytelling, Showtime Taiwan: The Sapphire Show is reimagined not merely as a symbol of nostalgia, but as a living cultural memory shared by all.
This Mother’s Day season, the fifth edition of The Sapphires Big Cabaret Stage—The Legend of Cabaret will return to Haiyin Hall. Hosted by Peter Huang, Miao Ke-Li, and Rene Hou, the concert will feature celebrated performers such as Yeh Chi-Tien, Michael Shih, and Lotus Wang. Through music and laughter, the show revives the authentic spirit of the golden era of variety stages, guiding audiences to relive timeless classics and rediscover the joy and vitality embodied by the Sapphire.
In publishing, the Kaohsiung Music Center has partnered with Yuan-Liou Publishing to release the book Showtime Taiwan: The Sapphire Show, officially launched in March. Written by Golden Tripod Award-winning author Chiu Tsu-Yin, illustrated by Golden Comic Award-winning artist Sean Chuang, and designed by Golden Butterfly Award-winning designer Yang Chi-Shun, the book draws on extensive archival research and interviews. It compiles materials from over 800 newspaper issues and includes conversations with nearly 30 veteran performers and local elders, meticulously reconstructing the Sapphire’s vital place in Taiwan’s entertainment history. A themed exhibition of the book, recently held at the Kaohsiung Main Public Library, further guided readers in revisiting the golden age of the city’s show culture.
Meanwhile, the documentary Showtime Taiwan: The Sapphire Show, directed by Golden Horse Award-winning filmmaker Yang Li-Chou, will be released nationwide on April 10. Through interviews with performers and behind-the-scenes professionals, the film retraces the Sapphire’s journey from its rise and glory to its intergenerational legacy, inviting audiences into a dazzling era while revealing the vitality and cultural significance of Taiwan’s show tradition. It is not only a record of the past, but also a profound reflection on Taiwan’s popular culture.
Kaohsiung is a city shaped by the sea and strengthened by its cultural depth. The story of the Sapphire reminds us that music and performance are more than entertainment. They are vital vessels of shared urban memory. Looking ahead, we will continue to cultivate local culture while connecting with the global stage, ensuring that Taiwan’s pop music continues to resonate from Kaohsiung. We warmly invite citizens and visitors alike to step into the history and melodies of Showtime Taiwan: The Sapphire Show, and to experience the cultural energy carried through music.
