Theater
Written and directed by Ismene Ting (丁乃箏), Performance Workshop Theatre’s (表演工作坊) This Is Real (這是真的) fuses elements of dance and theater to reflect on love.
■ Metropolitan Hall (台北市社教館城市舞台), 25, Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (北市八德路三段25號)
■ Tomorrow and Saturday at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$600 to NT$2,500, available through NTHC ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Fantasy Four (奇幻四騎士), a shadow puppet show by If Kids Theater Company (如果兒童劇團), is an adventure that follows the travails of an aged general and three drifters with special powers. The hour-long production is suitable for children aged three and up.
■ Wenshan Theater (文山劇場), 32 Jingwen St, Taipei City (台北市景文街32號)
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm, Saturday and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$200, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Once Upon a Time, in 8-12 (小七爆炸事件) by Action 1911 (1911劇團) takes its cue from the omnipresent 7-Eleven stores to tell the stories of seven individuals who find themselves at one such shop on a rainy night.
■ Guling Street Avant-Garde Theatre (牯嶺街小劇場), 2, Ln 5, Guling St, Taipei City (台北市牯嶺街5巷2號)
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, Saturday and Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$480, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The highly anticipated Russian-language production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest by British director Declan Donnellan will be performed in Kaohsiung as part of the Kaohsiung Spring Arts Festival (高雄春天藝術節). The international collaboration marries Donnellan’s signature minimalist style and Russian realist panache. The production has Chinese subtitles.
■ Kaohsiung Cultural Center’s Chihshan Hall (高雄市文化中心至善廳), 67 Wufu 1st Rd, Greater Kaohsiung (高雄市五福一路67號)
■ Saturday at 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical music
Absolutely Bobby and You! (巴比‧麥菲林LIVE) brings virtuoso vocalist Bobby McFerrin to Taiwan for two concerts, one in Tainan and one in Taipei. McFerrin is a 10-time Grammy Award-winner who shot to international fame with his 1989 hit Don’t Worry, Be Happy. He has achieved renown as a conductor, collaborating with the likes of the New York Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic.
■ Saturday at 7:30pm (Tainan) and Monday at 7:30pm (Taipei)
■ Tainan Municipal Cultural Center Performance Hall (台南市立文化中心演藝廳), 332, Jhonghua E Rd Sec 3, Greater Tainan (台南市中華東路三段332號) and the National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$2,000 for Tainan and NT$800 to NT$3,600 for Taipei, available through ERA ticketing and online at www.ticket.com.tw
Doubles Jeux (雙重遊戲) brings the highly acclaimed French violinist Laurent Korcia to Taiwan for a performance with the Taiwan Artists Ensemble (台灣藝術家合奏團). The program includes an extract from Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35 and a selection of popular film scores.
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm (Tainan), Saturday at 7:30pm (Yunlin) and Sunday at 7:30pm (Taipei)
■ Tainan Municipal Cultural Center Performance Hall (台南市立文化中心演藝廳), 332, Jhonghua E Rd Sec 3, Greater Tainan (台南市中華東路三段332號), Concert Hall of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Yunlin County Government (雲林縣政府文化局音樂廳), 310, Dasyue Rd Sec 3, Douliu City, Yunlin County (雲林縣斗六市大學路三段310號) and the National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$3,600 for all venues, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
As part of the Taiwan International Arts Festival (台灣國際藝術節), Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks (哈丁與巴伐利亞廣播交響樂團), also known as the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, will visit Taipei for two concerts. Widely acknowledged as one of the world’s great orchestras, it will be performing under conductor Daniel Harding and will feature violinist Christian Tetzlaff for the first concert and baritone Christian Gerhaher in the second. The program includes Beethoven’s Egmont Overture, Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D Major and Schubert’s Symphony No. 9 in C Major on Tuesday and songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn and Ruckert Lieder by Mahler and Bruckner’s Symphony No. 5 on Wednesday. A few tickets remain for the Tetzlaff concert on Wednesday, and a slightly wider range of seats is available for the second performance.
■ Feb. 28 at 7:30pm (Christian Tetzlaff) and Feb. 29 at 7:30pm (Christian Gerhaher)
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$600 to NT$4,200, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Night of Romance and Poetry (蕭邦的浪漫情話) sees the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra (長榮交響樂團) performing a program that includes Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor with pianist Katherine Jui Chang (張瑞佩) as well as Liszt’s Symphonic Poem No. 6, Mazeppa and Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73.
■ Tomorrow 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$1,500, available through ERA ticketing and online at www.ticket.com.tw
NTSO Beethoven Series-VI — A Hearty Joke (NTSO貝多芬永恆久九VI — 爽朗的玩笑) sees the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra (國立臺灣交響樂團) performing a program that includes Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93, Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 63 and Symphony No. 1 in D Major, Op. 25, and Faure’s Pelleas and Melisande Suite, Op. 80.
■ Today at 7:30pm (Taipei) and tomorrow at 7:30pm (Taichung)
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City and Chunghsing Hall (中興堂) National Taiwan University of Physical Education and Sport (國立台灣體育運動大學), 16 Shuangshi Rd Sec 1, Greater Taichung (台中市雙十路一段16號)
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,000, available through NTCH ticketing and 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 tonight, but tomorrow it’s a lineup of Taiwanese and Japanese bands: high-energy garage rockers 88 Balaz (88顆芭樂籽), indie rockers Astro Bunny, metal band Flesh Juicer (血肉果汁機), Okinawan rapper Dastamas, Japanese metal band Jigokuguruma (地獄車) and Okinawan rock band Maltese Rock. On Saturday, Mando-pop singer/songwriter and TV singing contest star Ricky Hsiao (蕭煌奇) takes to the stage. Aboriginal pop princess Tai Ai-ling (戴愛玲) appears on Sunday and on Monday, indie pop darlings Tizzy Bac play a one-off show devoted to their early material from the 1990s.
■ 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)
■ Show starts at 7pm tomorrow, 7:30pm Saturday, 8pm Sunday and Monday
■ NT$300 tonight, NT$1,800 tomorrow (NT$1,600 in advance), NT$800 (NT$600 in advance) on Sunday and Monday. Tickets for the venue’s concerts can be purchased at ERA ticketing outlets, online through www.ticket.com.tw and www.legacy.com.tw and at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
Tonight The Wall (這牆), Taipei’s most prominent venue for indie rock artists, hosts a trio of folk pop and indie pop artists: Crispy (脆樂團), Easy and DingDing and ShiShi (丁丁與西西). Tomorrow, the venue hosts Japanese electronica rock groups Sakanaction, a band that has drawn large crowds of rock fans in Japan, Lite and Avengers in Sci-Fi. Later on in the evening, it’s Detroit techno DJ Bone. Taiwanese pop-rock band F.I.R (飛兒樂團) takes to the stage on Saturday. Swedish post-rock band Immanu El performs on Sunday. On Wednesday, the venue hosts the Free Tibet Festival, featuring performances by activist musicians such as Aboriginal folk icon Panai (巴奈) and rapper Chang Jui-chuan (張睿銓).
■ 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$300 in advance), NT$1,600 (NT$1,400 in advance) tomorrow, NT$800 (NT$650 in advance) for tomorrow’s dance party, NT$500 Saturday and NT$1,300 Sunday (NT$1,100 in advance) and NT$800 on Wednesday. Tickets for all shows can be purchased online through www.thewall.com.tw and tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Witch House (女巫店), an intimate coffeehouse-style venue in the National Taiwan University area, hosts Infancy (隱分子), an electro-rock band, and Taitung acoustic duo A-san (阿三) and Eric, who perform on guitar and cajon. Tomorrow, it’s electronica group Frande and artsy indie folk group My 8 Day Weekend (週休八日). Jazz bassist Vincent Hsu (徐祟育) leads his trio on Saturday.
■ 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
Death metal band Brain Corrosion and melodic metal thrash outfit CoreField (芯力場) play tomorrow at Underworld (地下社會), a small basement club in Taipei. On Saturday, the venue hosts Taitung folk rock musicians Balai (巴賴) and Takanow (達卡鬧), who perform together as Gaga. They open for jam rock/post-rock group Jew’s Ear of Osaka, Japan. Later on, it’s the UnderU party, run by DJs Bounce Girlz and Discoattack, who will be joined by guest DJs Funkstar and Kolette. The venue opens on Sunday for a one-off show by Beijing rocker Mr Graceless and local shoegazer band Doodle. On Wednesday, solo folk musician Lo Chung-han (羅崇漢) opens for indie rock group The Linlaus (拎老師樂隊).
■ 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 Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Underworld is open daily from 9pm, closed on Mondays. Happy hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays before midnight
■ Entrance is NT$300 on Friday and Saturday (includes one drink), NT$100 for Saturday night dance party after 11pm. NT$350 on Sunday. Entrance for Wednesday shows is NT$100
Pop singer/songwriters Soloman Siah (薛光榮) and Elmer Ou (歐育齊) appear tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言). Tomorrow it’s RAY Band (雷樂隊), a trio of veteran session musicians who play power-rock originals and covers. On Saturday, female-led indie pop group Miss Stocking (絲襪小姐) takes to the stage, and on Sunday the venue hosts popular indie folk singer/songwriter Zulin Wu (吳志寧).
■ 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
■ Shows start at 9pm tonight, Saturday and Sunday and 9:30pm tomorrow
■ NT$350 tonight, NT$400 tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw and tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Riverside Live House (河岸留言西門紅樓展演館) hosts surgeon-turned-country pop singer-songwriter Oli Hang (杭士琁) and rock outfit Microcosmos (小宇宙樂團). Tomorrow, Chinese jazz fusion group Sizhukong (絲竹空) plays its first show of the year. Rock groups Solidor (固定客) and Indie Famous take to the stage on Saturday. Post-punk rockers Macbeth (馬克白) perform on Sunday.
■ 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
■ NT$400 tonight, NT$500 tomorrow (NT$400 in advance), NT$400 on Saturday (NT$300 in advance) and NT$500 on Sunday (NT$400 in advance). Tickets can be purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Tomorrow The TAV Cafe (村落餐廳), a bar and cafe located at the Taipei Artist Village (台北國際藝術村), hosts piano/bass/drums jazz troupe the Renaissance Trio. On Wednesday, Four Leapers on the Leap Day (閏日的四個跳躍者), a group of four local jazz musicians celebrating Leap Day, take to the stage.
■ 7 Beiping E Rd, Taipei City (台北市北平東路7號), tel: (02) 3393-7377 X207
■ Shows start at 9pm
■ Entrance is NT$350
Tonight indie rock club Revolver hosts live music from expat metal/punk band Half Mile Radius, Young David and indie electronica band Heartones. Tomorrow it’s Slack Tide, post-punk rock group Manic Sheep and expat indie rock band The Okay Cars. On Saturday, the venue hosts DJs James Ho, Fion, Salamander, Kolette and amStereo.
■ 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 start at 10pm
■ Entrance is NT$200 tonight, NT$300 tomorrow, NT$250 on Saturday
On Saturday, Bobwundaye, a small neighborhood pub on Taipei’s Heping East Road (和平東路), hosts live music from expat acoustic rock duo T-Bone and Yasu. The venue holds an open mic every Wednesday.
■ 77, Heping E Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市和平東路三段77號)
■ Shows start at 9:30pm
■ NT$200 on Saturday
The Wall (這牆) programs regular live rock shows at Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Arts Center (高雄駁二藝術特區). Tomorrow it’s rock bands Fallacy and OverNight (熬夜樂團). Taking to the stage on Saturday are Japanese electronica rock groups Sakanaction, a band that has drawn large crowds of fans in Japan, Lite and Avengers in Sci-Fi.
■ 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
■ Show starts at 7:30pm tonight and 7pm tomorrow
■ NT$300 tonight and NT$1,400 (NT$1,200 in advance) tomorrow
African percussion and dance troupe Mamaya (非音鼓舞團) is one among a number of groups set to perform tonight at Guangfu Temple (廣福宮) in New Taipei City’s Tucheng District (土城區). A contemporary ballet performance, jazz and cosplay parade round out a program that promises to be an unusual celebration of the birthday of the Earth God Fu Te Cheng Shen (福德正神).
■ Tucheng District Guangfu Temple (土城區廣福宮), 1, Ln 6, Xuexiang St, Tucheng District, New Taipei City (新北市土城區學享街6巷1號)
■ Tonight from 7pm to 9:30pm
■ Entrance is free
Sept.16 to Sept. 22 The “anti-communist train” with then-president Chiang Kai-shek’s (蔣介石) face plastered on the engine puffed along the “sugar railway” (糖業鐵路) in May 1955, drawing enthusiastic crowds at 103 stops covering nearly 1,200km. An estimated 1.58 million spectators were treated to propaganda films, plays and received free sugar products. By this time, the state-run Taiwan Sugar Corporation (台糖, Taisugar) had managed to connect the previously separate east-west lines established by Japanese-era sugar factories, allowing the anti-communist train to travel easily from Taichung to Pingtung’s Donggang Township (東港). Last Sunday’s feature (Taiwan in Time: The sugar express) covered the inauguration of the
The corruption cases surrounding former Taipei Mayor and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) head Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) are just one item in the endless cycle of noise and fuss obscuring Taiwan’s deep and urgent structural and social problems. Even the case itself, as James Baron observed in an excellent piece at the Diplomat last week, is only one manifestation of the greater problem of deep-rooted corruption in land development. Last week the government announced a program to permit 25,000 foreign university students, primarily from the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia, to work in Taiwan after graduation for 2-4 years. That number is a
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