Theater & Dance
For its much-anticipated Taiwan debut, Britain’s famed Royal Ballet will present a series of performances that show off both the troupe’s prowess in the classical repertoire and mastery of contemporary works. Tickets to the three Giselle performances sold out weeks ago, but tickets remain for the Mixed Program. [See story on page 14.]
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight at 7:30pm
■ Only NT$6,000 and NT$8,000 tickets remain, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Premiered in Switzerland last year, I Have to Stay to See How the Story Ends (續集) is performing art group Polymer DMT’s debut work. The product of a collaboration between the group’s multinational members, including German dancer Michael Hess, Taiwanese choreographer Luo Fang-yun (羅芳芸), Swiss visual artist Michelle Ettlin and rock band Marygold, the show examines human interaction and communication through the interplay among dancers, musicians and visual artists.
■ Plum Wine Factory (烏梅酒廠), Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號)
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Assignment Theatre Group’s (差事劇團) Born Out of Nothingness (無中生有 — 返身) explores the boundary between art and reality through the mysterious disappearance of a toy doll.
■ Treasure Hill Artist Village (寶藏巖國際藝術村), Ln 230, Dingzhou Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市汀州路三段230巷)
■ Tonight to Sunday at 7pm and 8:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$400, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Adapted from Japanese film director and playwright Koki Mitani’s story of the same title, University of Laughs (笑的大學) by Representation Theatre (再現劇團) is a comedy in which a young playwright comes up against an official censor who dislikes everything from political taboo to comedy.
■ Representation Theatre’s Arts Factory (再現劇團藝術工廠), B1, 43, Nanchang Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市南昌路一段43號B1)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$300, available through tickets.books.com.tw
It was ironic that Taiwan’s contribution to the Global Water Dances event on June 25 had to be postponed because of too much water. Rain brought by Tropical Storm Meari threatened to turn the grassy outdoor performance area in front of Tamsui’s Zhuwei Wharf (竹圍碼頭) into a quagmire. A drier and undeterred Dancecology (舞蹈生態系創意團隊) will perform its four-part program, which was inspired by the plight of Plum Tree Creek (樹梅坑溪), tomorrow afternoon to help focus attention on the need of millions of people for clean drinking water. [See “Liquid Movement,” June 25, page 13.]
■ Tomorrow from 5pm to 6pm
■ The viewing area in front of Zhuwei Wharf (竹圍碼頭) in Tamsui District, New Taipei City (新北市淡水區); it is a five-minute walk from Exit 2 of the Zhuwei MRT Station (竹圍捷運站)
■ Free admission
Classical music
Hsu Chia-chao Piano Concert (徐家超鋼琴獨奏會) presents pianist Hsu Chia-chao (徐家超) performing as part of Music Forum’s Weekend Concerts series (十方樂集週末音樂會). The program includes JS Bach’s English Suite No. 3, BWV808, Haydn’s Piano Sonata in E-flat Major, Poulenc’s Melancolie in D-flat Major and Intermezzo in A-flat Major and Chopin’s Piano Sonata No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 58.
■ Today at 7:30pm
■ Forum Auditorium (十方樂集音樂劇場演奏廳), 4, Ln 187, Minzu W Rd, Taipei City (台北市民族西路187巷4號)
■ Tickets are NT$250, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Koichiro Yamamoto With TSB (山本浩一郎與台北青年管樂團) features Japanese trombonist Koichiro Yamamoto performing with the Taipei Wind Orchestra and Symphonic Band (台北青年管樂團) under the baton of Hou Yu-piao (侯宇彪). The program includes John Mackey’s Harvest, Philip Sparke’s The Sun Will Rise Again, and Otto Schwarz’s Kyrill.
■ Monday at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Organ Concert (管風琴K了沒) is a series of two concerts that aim to introduce local audiences to one of the great instruments of Western classical music: the organ. The two concerts are notable for the wide range of material covered. Tomorrow’s performance consists of a selection of lighter works, ranging from gospel music such as Swingin’ With the Saints to Dvorak’s Humoresque, while Sunday’s concert is of a slightly more demanding program, including Mendelssohn’s Con Moto Maestoso, From Organ Sonata No. 3, Op. 65 in A Major and Rutter’s A Gaelic Blessing. The concerts will be performed by organist Liu Hsin-hung (劉信宏) and trumpeter Ho Chung-mou (何忠謀) and will be hosted by comedian Ken Lin (林暐恆), better known as A-ken (阿Ken).
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$800, 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. No shows are scheduled this weekend as of press time. On Thursday, the venue hosts The Next Big Thing, a semi-regular event featuring up-and-coming indie bands. This time around, post-punk group Macbeth (馬克白) and electro-rock band Salamander (沙羅曼蛇) take to the stage.
■ 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)
■ Shows start at 8pm
■ NT$200 on Thursday. 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) hosts Queen Suitcase (皇后皮箱) tonight, which plays retro rock and indie pop. The group headlines a bill shared with alt-rock band Silent Toads (啾吉惦惦) and Hush!. American indie pop duo Dean & Britta perform Galaxie 500 songs tomorrow night [see story above]. On Wednesday, Astro Bunny (原子邦妮), Far From Answer and No Money No Honey share the bill.
■ 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
■ NT$500 (NT$400 in advance) tonight, NT$1,700 tomorrow (NT$1,400 in advance) and NT$400 (NT$300 on Wednesday). Tickets for all shows can be purchased online through www.thewall.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
No shows are scheduled tonight or tomorrow at Witch House (女巫店), an intimate coffeehouse-style venue in the National Taiwan University area. On Sunday, Hong Kong singer-songwriter Ellen Joyce Loo (盧凱彤) takes to the stage.
■ 7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號), tel: (02) 2362-5494. On the Net: www.witchhouse.org
■ Shows start at 9:30pm. Restaurant/bar with queer/feminist bookstore and large collection of board games, open 11am to midnight Sundays through Wednesdays, 11am to 1am Thursdays through Saturdays
■ Entrance for music shows is NT$300
Veteran jazz combo JEG (這個爵士樂團) plays standards, Latin, funk, rock and fusion tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言). Tomorrow it’s folk rocker Dorian Chan (詹宇庭) and Mando-pop singer Queen (魏如昀). Another Mando-pop singer, Cindy Yen (袁詠琳), takes to the stage on Sunday. On Monday, the venue holds its 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 purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Local star cellist Fan Tsung-pei (范宗沛) takes to the stage tonight at Riverside Live House (河岸留言西門紅樓展演館). [See story on page 13.] Tomorrow afternoon the venue hosts a rock competition among city high schools. Jazz-rock group Seven Shekels (七舍客勒) performs on Thursday.
■ 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 8:30pm tonight, 1pm tomorrow and 8:30pm Thursday
■ NT$400 tonight and Thursday, NT$250 tomorrow. Tickets can be purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Indie electronica bands Billys (小比利) and The Shine and Shine and Shine and Shine (閃閃閃閃) play tonight at Underworld (地下社會). Tomorrow it’s AAN (安) and indie pop group Tipsy. On Wednesday, the venue hosts metal bands Die in Vain and Bury in Sorrow.
■ 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
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 blues from Bopomofo (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ). Dancers of all levels welcome. Tomorrow, drummer Abe Nbugu Kenyatta leads a band playing music from his hometown of New Orleans. On Thursday, Japanese blues guitarist Shun Kikuta, a former guitarist for blues legend Koko Taylor, performs with his trio.
■ 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 Wall (這牆) programs regular live rock shows at Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Arts Center (高雄駁二藝術特區). Pop singer Olivia Yan (閻韋伶) and her band Invisible Garden (閻韋伶與桃花源樂團) share the bill with indie rockers La Petite Nurse (小護士) on Sunday.
■ 1 Dayong Rd, Yancheng Dist, Kaohsiung City (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
■ NT$400 tonight and tomorrow
No shows are scheduled this weekend at The Mercury (水星酒館).
■ 46 Liwen Rd, Zuoying Dist, Greater Kaohsiung (高雄市左營區立文路46號), tel: (07) 550-8617. On the Net: mercurybar.blogspot.com
■ Entrance is NT$250, which includes one drink
In late October of 1873 the government of Japan decided against sending a military expedition to Korea to force that nation to open trade relations. Across the government supporters of the expedition resigned immediately. The spectacle of revolt by disaffected samurai began to loom over Japanese politics. In January of 1874 disaffected samurai attacked a senior minister in Tokyo. A month later, a group of pro-Korea expedition and anti-foreign elements from Saga prefecture in Kyushu revolted, driven in part by high food prices stemming from poor harvests. Their leader, according to Edward Drea’s classic Japan’s Imperial Army, was a samurai
The following three paragraphs are just some of what the local Chinese-language press is reporting on breathlessly and following every twist and turn with the eagerness of a soap opera fan. For many English-language readers, it probably comes across as incomprehensibly opaque, so bear with me briefly dear reader: To the surprise of many, former pop singer and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) ex-lawmaker Yu Tien (余天) of the Taiwan Normal Country Promotion Association (TNCPA) at the last minute dropped out of the running for committee chair of the DPP’s New Taipei City chapter, paving the way for DPP legislator Su
It’s hard to know where to begin with Mark Tovell’s Taiwan: Roads Above the Clouds. Having published a travelogue myself, as well as having contributed to several guidebooks, at first glance Tovell’s book appears to inhabit a middle ground — the kind of hard-to-sell nowheresville publishers detest. Leaf through the pages and you’ll find them suffuse with the purple prose best associated with travel literature: “When the sun is low on a warm, clear morning, and with the heat already rising, we stand at the riverside bike path leading south from Sanxia’s old cobble streets.” Hardly the stuff of your
Located down a sideroad in old Wanhua District (萬華區), Waley Art (水谷藝術) has an established reputation for curating some of the more provocative indie art exhibitions in Taipei. And this month is no exception. Beyond the innocuous facade of a shophouse, the full three stories of the gallery space (including the basement) have been taken over by photographs, installation videos and abstract images courtesy of two creatives who hail from the opposite ends of the earth, Taiwan’s Hsu Yi-ting (許懿婷) and Germany’s Benjamin Janzen. “In 2019, I had an art residency in Europe,” Hsu says. “I met Benjamin in the lobby