Theater
Shang Oreintheatre (上默劇) celebrates its 10th anniversary with two acclaimed works from its Zen-inspired repertoire: Bardo Todel (我從遙遠來) combines puppetry, chanting, masks and dance in a piece that explores life and death, while La Lune Souffle (圓月) suggests that the spiritual realm and the material world are parts of an integral whole.
■ Experimental Theater, Taipei City
Photo courtesy of Taiwan Drama Performance
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$800, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Dream of Independence (三口組—建國大夢), the latest theatrical production by Taiwan Drama Performance (台灣戲劇表演家), fuses Chinese stand-up comedy with anime to tell the story of three detectives who are sent to explore the Republic of China’s 100 years of history.
Photo courtesy of NTCH
■ National Taiwan University of Arts Performance Hall (國立台灣藝術大學演藝廳), 59 Daguan Rd Sec 1, Banciao District, New Taipei City (新北市板橋區大觀路一段59號)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm and tomorrow at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw.
Photo: Taipei Times
Sifansekong (思凡色空) by Jing Explore Theater (京探號劇場) explores emotions, desire and identity through the tale of a female Buddhist monk.
■ 363 Theater (363小劇場), 4F, 36-3, Fuxing S Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市復興南路一段36-3號4樓)
■ Tonight and Monday at 7:30pm, tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
M.O.V.E. Theatre Group’s (動見体劇團) War, Parts I and II (戰:首部曲二部曲聯演) is a frenetic performance that merges sport, dance and theater with scant dialogue. Onstage, the performers play tennis, baseball and table tennis, which are presented as metaphors of life.
■ Wenshan Theater (文山劇場), 32 Jingwen St, Taipei City (台北市景文街32號)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$600, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The annual Spring Riot series by Cloud Gate 2 (雲門2) features works by four choreographers this year, including Berlin-based Sun Shang-chi’s (孫尚綺) Genus (屬輩), which explores the separation of mind and body, and Huang Yi’s (黃翊) Violin — Symphony Project I (機械提琴 — 交響樂計畫之一), the artist’s latest attempt to blend technology and dance.
■ Kaohsiung Cultural Center’s Chihteh Hall (高雄市文化中心至德堂), 67 Wufu 1st Rd, Greater Kaohsiung (高雄市五福一路67號)
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,200, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical music
Franz Listz — Solo Recital by Eric Chen (曠世琴魔李斯特 — 陳冠宇2011鋼琴獨奏會) is part of a series of concerts that celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Franz Liszt. The concert, performed by emerging talent Eric Chen (陳冠宇), includes Liszt’s Liebestraum No. 3 in A-flat Major, S.541 No. 3, Piano Sonata in B Minor, S. 178, Tarantella and Totentanz.
■ Today at 7:30pm (Taichung) and May 14 at 7:30pm (Taipei)
■ Taichung City Seaport Art Center (台中市立港區藝術中心), 21 Jhongjheng Rd, Cingshuei Dist, Greater Taichung (台中市清水區忠貞路21號) and National Recital Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,000 (Taichung) and NT$300 to NT$1,000 (Taipei), available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw
NSO Classics — Pathetique (NSO精選 — 悲愴俄羅斯) presents violinist Baiba Skride performing a program that includes Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 74 and Marche Slave, Op. 31, as well as Prokofieff’s Violin Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 63. The National Symphony Orchestra (國家交響樂團) will be led by Gunther Herbig.
■ Today at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Contemporary
Legacy Taipei, located in a former warehouse at Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), hosts top Taiwanese pop performers and international acts. Tonight’s show featuring veteran Mando-pop composer and singer Chen Hsiao-hsia (陳小霞) is sold out. Tomorrow night, Aboriginal rocker Chang Chen-yue (張震嶽) teams up with his long-time cohort, hip-hop meister MC Hot Dog. Hong Kong singer-songwriter Ellen Joyce Loo (盧凱彤) appears on Wednesday, with acoustic guitar duo Woody Woody as the opening act.
■ Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), Center Five Hall (中五館), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號)
■ All shows start at 8pm, except Wednesday concerts, which start at 8:30pm
■ Sold out tonight, NT$1,000 tomorrow, NT$500 on Wednesday (NT$400 in advance). Tickets for the venue’s concerts can be purchased at ERA ticketing outlets, online through www.ticket.com.tw or www.legacy.com.tw, or at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
The Wall (這牆), Taipei’s most prominent venue for indie rock artists, hosts Brit-pop and grunge group The Capelin (柳葉魚), indie rock group Insecteens (昆蟲白) and Belgium rock duo Tip Toe Topic tonight. Tomorrow, it’s indie-folk duo katncandix2 (棉花糖), followed by a late-night dance party titled Midnight Mi, which features a DJ lineup that includes Facial Peace and Spykee Fat. On Sunday, the venue hosts post-rock group Selfkill, post-punk group Macbeth (馬克白) and electro-rock outfit Varo, a band led by veteran indie rocker Huang Wan-ting (黃琬婷).
■ B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1), tel: (02) 2930-0162. On the Net: www.thewall.com.tw
■ Shows start at 8pm tonight, tomorrow and Sunday
■ NT$500 tonight (NT$400 in advance), tomorrow (NT$400 for dance party later on) and Sunday. Tickets for all shows can be purchased online through www.thewall.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Riverside Live House hosts a photography exhibition titled The Portrait of Indies (搖滾的模樣), which features Taiwanese indie bands. Tonight’s program includes live performances from Macbeth (馬克白) and Mary See the Future. Tomorrow it’s Mando-pop performers Tong-en (同恩) and No Name (余荃斌). On Thursday, the venue hosts American pianist Uri Caine and his trio.
■ 177 Xining S Rd, Taipei City (台北市西寧南路177號), tel: (02) 2370-8805. On the Net: www.riverside.com.tw
■ Show starts at 8pm tonight, 8:30pm tomorrow and Thursday
■ Entrance is NT$400 tonight and tomorrow, NT$800 on Thursday. Tickets can be purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Pianist Fred Lu (呂聖斐) leads a local all-star cast of jazz musicians tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言). Tomorrow Mando-popper Evan Yo (蔡旻佑) takes to the stage, and on Sunday, it’s acoustic pop group Anniedora (安妮朵拉) and acoustic guitar trio Tiaolang (跳浪樂團). Monday is the venue’s weekly open jam.
■ B1, 2, Ln 244, Roosevelt Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路三段244巷2號B1), next to Taipower Building (台電大樓), tel: (02) 2368-7310. On the Net: www.riverside.com.tw
■ Show starts tonight at 9:30pm, 9pm on all other nights. For a list of standard songs and ground rules for the open jam, visit the venue’s Web site
■ NT$400 tonight, tomorrow and Sunday and NT$150 Monday. Tickets can be purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Reggae rock group Hang in the Air (盪在空中) and soul group OTA Soul play tonight at Underworld (地下社會), a small basement club in Taipei [see story on page 14]. Indie rock outfit Silverbus (銀巴士) and Eaten by the Cab take to the stage tomorrow. On Wednesday, it’s Goosander (川秋沙) and Murky Crows (昏鴉).
■ B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路45號B1), tel: (02) 2369-0103. On the Net: www.upsaid.com/underworld
■ Shows run from 9pm to 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Underworld is open daily from 9pm, closed on Mondays. Happy hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays before midnight
■ Entrance for music shows is NT$300 on Fridays and Saturdays, which includes one drink. Entrance for Wednesday shows is NT$100
Walabu (和拉伯) performs Middle Eastern music tonight at Sappho de Base, a late-night lounge bar that hosts mostly live jazz and blues performances. Tomorrow it’s live blues, funk and psychedelic jams from Blues Vibrations. On Tuesday, TNT Jazz leads an open jam session, De Duo (甯子達) is on Wednesday, and the Shalom Jazz Quintet takes to the stage on Thursday.
■ B1, 1, Ln 102, Anhe Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市安和路一段102巷1號B1), tel: (02) 2700-5411. On the Net: www.sappho102.biz
■ Shows start at 10pm. The venue is closed on Sundays and Mondays
■ Entrance is NT$200 tonight, tomorrow and Thursday, free on other nights
EZ5 Live House hosts Mando-pop singers backed by a live band every night. Highlights for the week ahead include Mando-pop songstress Julia Peng (彭佳慧) on Tuesday and male crooner Shin Lung (辛龍), who performs every Saturday. Acclaimed Aboriginal singer Samingad (紀曉君) performs on Thursdays.
■ 211, Anhe Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市安和路二段211號), tel: (02) 2738-3995. On the Net: visit www.ez5.com.tw
■ Shows run from 9:45pm to 12:30am
■ Entrance fee (includes two drinks) ranges from NT$600 to NT$850, depending on the performer
Taipei Swing holds dance socials on Friday nights at Italian restaurant Capone’s, with live music from Taipei blues band Bopomofo (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ). Dancers of all levels welcome. Tomorrow, drummer Abe Nbugu Kenyatta leads a band playing music from his hometown of New Orleans.
■ 312, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段312號), tel: (02) 2773-3782
■ Live music from 9pm to 11:30pm on Fridays, 8pm to 11:30pm on Saturdays
■ On Fridays, minimum charge of one drink. On Saturdays, minimum charge is NT$300
The Village Cafe (村落餐廳), a bar and cafe located at the Taipei Artist Village (台北國際藝術村), hosts live music every Saturday night. This week features indie rock singer-songwriter Moonteg and Blue Velvet (藍絲絨).
■ 7 Beiping E Rd, Taipei City (台北市北平東路7號), tel: (02) 3393-7377 X207
■ Tomorrow at 9pm
■ Entrance is NT$300, includes one drink
The Wall (這牆) programs regular live rock shows at Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Arts Center (高雄駁二藝術特區). Tonight chanteuse Waa Wei (魏如萱), better known as Wawa (娃娃), plays a sold-out show. Tomorrow, the venue hosts indie pop sensation Tizzy Bac. On Sunday, it’s Brit-pop and grunge group The Capelin (柳葉魚) and post-rock band Sky Post (天空郵局).
■ 1 Dayong Rd, Yancheng Dist, Greater Kaohsiung (高雄市鹽埕區大勇路1號). On the Net: pier-2.khcc.gov.tw, www.thewall.com.tw
■ Shows start at 7:30pm
■ Sold out tonight, entrance is NT$500 tomorrow and NT$300 on Sunday
Event
Taipei Discussion and Learning meets every Sunday at Cafe Bastille to hear lectures and discuss topics such as philosophy, science, anthropology, globalization and alternative medicine. All discussions and lectures are conducted in English. This Sunday’s topic is titled David Harvey: Neo-Marxism, Geography and the City.
■ Cafe Bastille, 7 Wenzhou St, Taipei City (台北市溫州街7號), tel (02) 2362-9981
■ 7:45pm, every Sunday
■ Entrance is free. For more information visit www.taipeidiscussionandlearning.blogspot.com
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