Publication Date：05/25/2011
Source： Taiwan Today
By Elaine Hou
Taiwan’s rich theatrical traditions are set to take center stage at the upcoming Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space, the Council for Cultural Affairs said May 24.
Billed as the world’s largest design performance event, the quadrennial is expected to draw more than 5,000 theater professionals and 40,000 visitors from over 76 countries to witness the latest developments in theater design, architecture and performance, the CCA said.
According to the council, the International Organization of Scenographers and Theatre Technicians (OISTAT), co-organizers of the 11-day quadrennial kicking off June 16, will stage a series of events promoting Taiwan.
“This is a great opportunity for Taiwan to connect with international theater professionals,” CCA Minister Emile Chih-jen Sheng said during a news conference marking the fifth anniversary of OISTAT transferring its headquarters to Taipei.
The CCA said the events begin June 18 with a workshop introducing weaving techniques for bamboo costumes used in Taiwan dance performances. This is followed with a seminar on scenography by Stan Lai, one of Asia’s best playwrights and directors.
In the evening, Sheng will deliver a cocktail party address introducing state-of-the-art performance facilities such as the Taichung Metropolitan Opera House and Kaohsiung’s Wei-Wu-Ying Center for the Arts.
On June 24, a performance combining traditional Chinese fairy tales will be given on the streets of the Czech capital. The schedule concludes the next day with a workshop on Taiwanese opera and its related elements, including costumes, makeup, music and singing.
Established in Prague in 1968, OISTAT aims to stimulate the exchange of ideas and innovations and to promote international collaboration in professions supporting live performance. It has 36 centers worldwide, comprising over 20,000 members from 47 countries. (JSM)
