JIN Shijie, one of Taiwan's most famous actors and a founding figure in the island's theater scene, used to be a drama-loving veterinarian and book-reading pig farmer who proudly called himself a "hog king."

"I have an insatiable desire for life. I want to try more. That's why I chose to study farming to escape from the formal college entrance examination, and then stayed at the farm to raise pigs," Jin said in a recent interview and talk at the Wenhui Xinmin United Press Group.

He later dropped out of farming and at the age of 27 went to Taipei to try to realize his lifelong dream of "telling or writing a story." He spurned any office work, which he considered "a waste of life." In his own words, he lived like a "beggar," laughing that some of his fellow "beggar-mates" are big names in Taiwan theater today.

Today Jin himself, now age 61 and a new father of twins, is a venerated figure, not only a stage actor but also a playwright, director, TV and film actor, a professor of performance and art. He is considered by many to be the main force behind the development of Taiwan's theater.

At the end of this month, Jin brings - and stars in - the two-character play "Tuesdays with Morrie" based on a 1997 novel about a man's (Mitch's) visits with his dying 78-year-old sociology professor, Morrie, whom he hasn't seen in 16 years. Jin plays Morrie; Mitch is played by Bu Xueliang. The play, adapted from the novel by Jin himself, asks the question: how does one say good-bye to life?.

The play, without English subtitles, will be performed at the Shanghai People's Grand Theater; it has been performed twice before in Shanghai.

Stan Lai, famous Taiwanese playwright and founder of the Performance Workshop, has called Jin the representative of Taiwan's modern theater. "Because of him, the theatrical world - previously not very rich or extensive - has become meaningful and aesthetically important."

In addition to creativity, Jin's stubbornness, risk-taking and passion for drama contributed to his success.

"I was so rebellious at the time and I thought I was a man of great promise," Jin said. "I'd rather do manual labor than use any part of my brain on work that wasn't related to the theater." All his famous work in film and television has served one purpose: to support the stage, his true love.

Since he was a boy growing up in southern Taiwan, he had always been interested in books, drama, movies, history - stories of all kinds.

Speaking of his role as Morrie, Jin said, "When I was on the stage, I saw the audience smiling, I saw the audience wiping away tears. When Morrie had difficulty moving, they would lean forward in their chairs, and they seemed to want to come on stage and help."

After giving up the farming life and moving to Taipei, Jin had small stage parts and eked out a living. Eventually he became a founder of the Lanling Drama Workshop in 1977. His 1978 play, comedy "He Zhu Xin Pei," ("Ho-chu's New Match") energized the Taiwan drama scene and lifted the curtain on modern drama.

Recalling his early days of struggle - he uses the word "beggar" in jest - Jin said he was too poor and proud to eat with friends at their meals because he didn't want them buying food for him. Instead, he ate their leftovers when they had finished. "I told I would not join their meal. My friends would call me when they finished eating and I went to eat," Jin said, laughing.

Life got better as Jin got roles in TV series and films.

At first, his Lanling Workshop co-founder Wu Jing-ji was the tutor of the workshop. Wu was knowledgeable about psychology and has some experience on Broadway. For the first one and a half years after founding the workshop, the two men played a lot of "psychology games" and massaged each other, Jin said.

"To do massage is to learn the details of the body and the natural reaction to any situation or people. Relaxation is the most important homework for a performer," Jin said.

"(After that) we are able to perform naturally on stage, just like life. The audience has sharp eyes and they can smell real life. They are not attracted to artificial performing skills," he said.

In the following 20 years, Jin became Taiwan's best recognized stage actor and playwright. He played Lao Jin who dearly loves his wife in "Red Sky" (2005); a mysterious rich man Lao Qian in "Sand and A Distant Star" (2007); a man who never forgets his first love in "Millennium Teahouse" (2008); famous Shanghai gangster Du Yuesheng in old Shanghai in "The Bund" (2010).

Jin's most recognized role was "Jiang Binliu," the main character in Stan Lai's famous "Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land." Since the show's premiere in 1986, Jin played the role continuously until 2006.

He is also famous for film work and TV series such as "The Pride of Mei Long Town" in 1999. But non-stage work only supports his drama workshop, he said.

"Theater is my origin and my destiny, my idealism and the purest place of my soul. It can be pioneering, mysterious, and transcend reality," he said.

Sometimes young actors have advantages because their lack of experience makes them more natural and spontaneous, he observed.

At the age of 59, Jin married for the first time. His wife was his student Tu Guping. They have twins, a boy and girl. Jin once said that he did not believe in love and was opposed to marriage. Today he has "grown up," he said, comparing his development to the changing of leaves with the seasons, from green to yellow or red.

Home has given him a sense of security and belonging, Jin said.

"I was an unhappy person, always worried about the big questions of life and human nature. The birth of my children made me laugh more. Now I am sometimes curious about where my old, strong tragic side has gone." he said.

Jin said he that in the future he would talk about the big questions of life with his children and hopes he can be the storyteller in their lives.

"Tuesdays with Morrie"

Time: July 26-29, 7:30pm

Venue: Shanghai People's Grand Theater (663 Jiujiang Rd)

Tickets: 180-680 yuan

Hotline: 1520-173-8378