Theater
After staging two theatrical adaptations of Indian literature last year, EX-Theatre Asia (EX-亞洲劇團) is turning its attention to the Western canon with When We Dead Awaken, which was adapted from Henrik Ibsen’s play of the same title. Directed by Taipei-based Indian director Chongtham Jayanta Meetei, the production aims to explore an artist’s confusion.
■ Experimental Theater, Taipei City
Photo courtesy of Like Lettuce
■ 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
Drama Club Theater (劇樂部劇團) is presenting an evening of two new productions. First up is Secret Room (房間裡的秘密), based on Hungarian-born Swiss writer Agota Kristof’s short play Key to the Lift. The second is You Come (你來), in which a coffee house reveals its secrets.
Photo: Reuters
■ Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), Fruit Wine Building (果酒禮堂), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm and 6:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The First Head (第一顆) by Like Lettuce (像生苣劇團), a comedy troupe that was set up by students in National Taiwan University (國立台灣大學), attempts to wed Western theater with Chinese cross-talk (相聲) through a story of two characters, Miss Cross-talk and Mr Comedy.
■ Comedy Club, 20, Ln 553, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段553巷20號)
■ Tonight, tomorrow and Sunday at 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$250, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Murderer of the Babama Company (羅密歐與茱麗葉舞台謀殺案) by Bird Troupe (劇團鳥組) is a detective comedy in which two investigators, disguised as actors, probe murder threats sent to members of a touring theatrical company.
■ Taipei Stock (倉庫藝文空間), 3F, 34, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段34號3樓)
■ Tonight at 8pm, tomorrow at 2pm and 7pm and Sunday at 7pm
■ Tickets are NT$350, available
through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical music
German Romanticism by Chen and Chen (東方騎士的西方傳奇) is a performance by the Taipei Symphony Orchestra (台北市立交響樂團) and clarinetist Chen Wei-lung (陳威稜), conducted by Felix Chen (陳秋盛). The program includes Wagner’s Prelude and Liebestod From “Tristan und Isolde,” Julius Rietz’s Concert Piece for Clarinet and Orchestra, Op. 33, Mahler’s Adagietto From Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp Minor and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67.
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www. artsticket.com.tw
Playing Quintet (五重奏的嬉游) brings together musicians from Taiwan’s National Symphony Orchestra (國家交響樂團) and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra (上海交響樂團) to perform Lee Che-yi’s (李哲藝) Fantasy for String Quartet No. 2, Dvorak’s String Quintet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 77 and Schubert’s The Trout Quintet.
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm
■ National Recital 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. Tonight and tomorrow’s shows with Taiwan’s top rocker Wu Bai (伍佰) are already sold out. Folk-rock singer Europa Huang (黃建為) takes to the stage on Wednesday to promote the release of a new album.
■ 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
■ Sold out tonight and tomorrow and Sunday, and NT$600 on Wednesday (NT$500) 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
Tonight The Wall (這牆), Taipei’s most prominent venue for indie rock artists, hosts experimental electronica band Varo, led by former Ladybug member Wan Ting (琬婷), and electro-rock group OCD Girl (強迫女孩). Tomorrow is a hip-hop party with Yella Boyz, L.B.C. and DJ Charlene, among a long list of performers. On Sunday, Canadian indie rock performer Eric Chenaux takes to the stage, with local art-rock performer Skip Skip Ben Ben opening the show. On Wednesday, it’s dance rock groups P!SCO and Popcorn (爆米花). Japanese glam-rock/visual kei group Versailles appears on Thursday.
■ 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$400 tonight, NT$600 tomorrow (NT$400 in advance), NT$700 on Sunday (NT$500 in advance), NT$400 on Wednesday (NT$300 in advance) and NT$1,700 (NT$1,500). Tickets for all shows can be purchased online through www.thewall.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Witch House (女巫店), an intimate coffeehouse-style venue in the National Taiwan University area, hosts the JCK Jazz Trio. Tomorrow it’s slow-core indie rock band Silverbus (銀巴士樂團), and on Thursday shoegazer band Nuin 8 (扭音八) and Wuwu Shen (五五身) take 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
Tonight Underworld (地下社會), a small basement club in Taipei, hosts thrash metal bands Horsemen (騎馬人樂團) and Kill the Tease. Tomorrow it’s more metal with Flesh Juicer and taike (台客) rock band Children Sucker (表兒). On Wednesday, it’s up-and-coming indie groups Trash and Twice a Week (一週兩次).
■ 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
The Dafu Fusion Project performs tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言). Tomorrow, it’s Japanese blues guitarist virtuoso Shun Kikuta, formerly based in Chicago and a long-serving member of Koko Taylor’s band. On Sunday, acoustic indie-pop groups French Cheese (法式綺思) and Yi-Cheng and Yi-Ching (依錚依靜) take to the stage. 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, NT$350 Sunday and NT$150 Monday. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Pop-rock bands What Century (花世紀), Crystal Dancer (舞璃) and Candy Wine (糖果酒) play tonight at Riverside Live House (河岸留言西門紅樓展演館). Tomorrow’s concert featuring Canto-pop star Daniel Chan (陳曉東) is already sold out. On Sunday, it’s Japanese jazz trumpeter Eric Miyashiro.
■ 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
■ Shows start at 8:30pm, except Sunday’s show, which starts at 7pm
■ NT$400 tonight, sold out tomorrow, free on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased online through
www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
The Super Organ Quartet performs tonight at Sappho de Base, a late-night lounge bar that hosts live jazz and blues performances. Tomorrow Plan B performs rock and funk. On Tuesday, it’s the Sappho House Band, which leads an open jam and on Wednesday there’s an event titled My Name is GSS, hosted by hip-hop artist/MC Leo37.
■ 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 and tomorrow, free other nights
Tonight indie rock club Revolver hosts the Soul, Sweat and Swank show with DJs Paul Duffy and Zulu, who will be accompanied by a live saxophonist. Tomorrow, it’s a ska and tribal night with special guest Selecta Tsunamo and ska group Mary Bites Kerry and DJs Zo and Lucy.
■ 1-2, Roosevelt Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路一段1-2號), tel: (02) 3393-1678
■ Shows usually start after 10pm. Contact venue for precise times
■ Entrance is NT$250 tonight and NT$400 tomorrow, which includes one drink tonight and two drinks tomorrow
EZ5 Live House hosts Mando-pop singers backed by a live band every night. Highlights for the week ahead include 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
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 performances every Saturday. Taking to the stage tomorrow are post-rock group Collider and Ween-tribute band Skycruiser.
■ 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, which 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 the venue hosts indie bands Double 2, Morning Call (輕晨電) and solo acoustic rocker Erin Xia (夏寧杉). Tomorrow punk bands The Lawns (草地人) and Punkhoo (胖虎) take to the stage.
■ 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
■ NT$300 tonight and tomorrow
Tomorrow, The 3 Baboons Sports Bar & Grill, an expat hangout at the Taimall Shopping Center (台茂購物中心) in Taoyuan, hosts country and western band 2 Acres Plowed.
■ Taimall Shopping Center (台茂購物中心), 112, Nankan Rd Sec 1, Lujhu Township, Taoyuan County (桃園縣蘆竹鄉南崁路一段112號), tel: (03) 212-2150. On the Net: www.3baboons.com
■ Starts at 8pm
■ Entrance is free
Expat electro-rock duo Hi-Life Wedding performs tomorrow night at The Empress. The evening lineup includes a drag show by the Dajieda Divas, and music from DJs Al Burro and Nekbrace.
■ 1F, 13, Alley 5, Lane 147, Keelung Rd, Sec. 1, Taipei City (台北市信義區基隆路一段147巷5弄13號1F)
■ Starts at 10pm
■ Entrance is NT$350, which includes one drink
The Ilha Formosa Ensemble, a group of local and expat musicians from Spain, France, the US and Brazil, perform Brazilian choro music live this afternoon at the Red House Theater (西門紅樓) as part of the Taipei Fringe Festival. The show includes Samba drumming and a dance performance from expat Brazilian dancer and capoeira instructor Cristiane Henry.
■ 10 Chengdu Rd, Taipei City (台北市成都路10號)
■ Today at 3pm
■ Admission is NT$400, tickets available at the door or through tickets.com.tw
Event
An offshoot of the group IdeaLeaks, which organizes a weekly salon that examines philosophical and social issues, IdeaL Day (理想的一天) aims to “empower the general public to take action to improve” society. On Sunday, the group is holding a scavenger hunt across the capital to raise awareness of environmental issues. Participants will be given clues and puzzles in a race to complete a series of tasks. The organizers encourage registration, but will accept entries on the day of the event. The meeting point and time for the hunt is 11am at the entrance of Fuyang Eco Park (富陽自然生態公園), which is located at the intersection of Wolong Street, Lane 272 (臥龍街272巷) and Fuyang Street (富陽街) in Taipei.
■ Fuyang Eco Park (富陽自然生態公園), at the intersection of Wolong Street, Lane 272 (臥龍街272巷) and Fuyang Street (富陽街), Taipei
■ Sunday, from 11am to 6pm
■ Free. To register, visit bit.ly/qk3F9l
A few weeks ago I found myself at a Family Mart talking with the morning shift worker there, who has become my coffee guy. Both of us were in a funk over the “unseasonable” warm weather, a state of mind known as “solastalgia” — distress produced by environmental change. In fact, the weather was not that out of the ordinary in boiling Central Taiwan, and likely cooler than the temperatures we will experience in the near-future. According to the Taiwan Adaptation Platform, between 1957 and 2006, summer lengthened by 27.8 days, while winter shrunk by 29.7 days. Winter is not
Taiwan’s post-World War II architecture, “practical, cheap and temporary,” not to mention “rather forgettable.” This was a characterization recently given by Taiwan-based historian John Ross on his Formosa Files podcast. Yet the 1960s and 1970s were, in fact, the period of Taiwan’s foundational building boom, which, to a great extent, defined the look of Taiwan’s cities, determining the way denizens live today. During this period, functionalist concrete blocks and Chinese nostalgia gave way to new interpretations of modernism, large planned communities and high-rise skyscrapers. It is currently the subject of a new exhibition at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Modern
March 25 to March 31 A 56-year-old Wu Li Yu-ke (吳李玉哥) was straightening out her artist son’s piles of drawings when she inadvertently flipped one over, revealing the blank backside of the paper. Absent-mindedly, she picked up a pencil and recalled how she used to sketch embroidery designs for her clothing business. Without clients and budget or labor constraints to worry about, Wu Li drew freely whatever image came to her mind. With much more free time now that her son had found a job, she found herself missing her home village in China, where she
In recent years, Slovakia has been seen as a highly democratic and Western-oriented Central European country. This image was reinforced by the election of the country’s first female president in 2019, efforts to provide extensive assistance to Ukraine and the strengthening of relations with Taiwan, all of which strengthened Slovakia’s position within the European Union. However, the latest developments in the country suggest that the situation is changing rapidly. As such, the presidential elections to be held on March 23 will be an indicator of whether Slovakia remains in the Western sphere of influence or moves eastward, notably towards Russia and