In many countries, attending a theater performance
is a natural part of life. The CKS Cultural Center,
which operates the National Concert Hall and the
National Theater, hopes that Taiwanese people will
form the same habit, so it has created the 2003
World View Series to bring performing artists from
a variety of countries to Taiwan. The series begins
with a month of contemporary UK theater productions.
"2003 The World View--British Theater"
marks the first cooperative effort between the CKS
Cultural Center and the British Council, a private
not-for-profit organization which promotes the UK's
contemporary arts, culture, sciences, and education
throughout the world.
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Three companies will participate in "2003
The World View--British Theater," covering
a broad cross-section of UK contemporary theater.
The first, Bobby Baker uses the art of storytelling
to explore everyday issues, such as shopping
and motherhood. This artist trained as a painter,
but found it hard to convey her ideas in paint
alone and turned instead to foods as a more
expressive media. She found that the best way
of presenting her edible works of art to the
public was through performances. |
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She has since built an extensive repertoire. The
work she is bringing to Taiwan is entitled "Box
Story," and was inspired by the myth of Pandora.
During the performance, Baker delves into a selection
of boxes containing the ills of the world, and attempts
to conquer them with hope and humor. Throughout
she is accompanied by a virtual choir of nine singers.
Neil Webb, arts manager at the British Council's
Taipei office, sums up Baker's appeal: "In
these times, when theater is becoming bigger and
bigger, with more and more multimedia effects, the
simplest solo show like Bobby Baker's can be moving
and powerful."
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The second company to perform is Theatre Babel,
Scotland's only touring classical theater company.
Working to reinvestigate and reinvigorate classical
theater, the company employs an ensemble approach,
and frequently engages leading Scottish playwrights
to create new versions of classical drama for
contemporary audiences. Theatre Babel will be
performing "Thebans," which was premiered
at the 2003 Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August.
"Thebans" is based on the work of
Sophocles and Euripides. |
Webb explains that, "Theatre Babel is closest
to the tradition of British theater. This company
is working with Greek classics, yet at the same
time its productions are modern and new."
The final company to perform in this series is Station
House Opera. In its production "Roadmetal,
Sweetbread," recreated specifically for each
environment, a man and a woman compete with their
own life-size video images for attention. Hidden
motives, repressed impulses, covert violence, and
secret passions all become evident in the ensuing
struggle.
Station House Opera makes good use of mixed
media, and as there is almost no dialogue,
the production transcends the language barrier.
Webb says that he expects Stationhouse Opera's
performances to be met with anticipation in
Taiwan, as the use of multimedia effects in
performances has become increasingly popular
in Taiwan.
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He summarizes the purpose of this month-long British
theater festival by saying that he hopes that people
in Taiwan will come away with an awareness of contemporary
British theater, and that there will be a break
from the stereotyped image of traditional Shakespearian
theater.
2003
The World View--British Theater Performance Schedule:
Bobby
Baker--"Box Story"
September 12 7:30 pm
September 13 2:30 pm, 7:30 pm
September 14 2:30 pm
Theatre
Babel--"Thebans"
September 19 7:30 pm
September 20 2:30 pm, 7:30 pm
September 21 2:30 pm, 7:30 pm
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Station
House Opera--"Roadmetal, Sweetbread"
October 3 7:30 pm
October 4 2:30 pm, 7:30 pm
October 5 2:30 pm
Place:
The National Theater's Experimental Theater.
Tickets cost NT$500, and can be purchased
from the National Theater and Concert Hall
(NTCH) Box Office, Tel: (02) 2343-1647.
For more information: www.ntch.edu.tw
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