The Ministry of Culture hosted a news conference June 20 in Taipei City to brief media on the plans of eight troupes to attend Festival Off Avignon in France and Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland.
According to the MOC, Culture Minister Li Yuan; Lutz Güllner, head of the European Economic and Trade Office in Taiwan; Rep. Franck Paris of the French Office in Taipei; and Susan Milner, director of the British Council Taiwan, were in attendance.
Li said that four pieces will be performed at each festival, and noted that they will encompass circus, dance and dramatic works on themes of culture, gender, relationship and self-identity, displaying diverse perspectives and innovative power.
Festival Off Avignon takes place July 5-26 in the southeastern French city of the same name, and will feature Hung Dance and D_Antidote Production from Taipei, Mailantia Dance Company from the southern city of Tainan, and Focasa Circus Art from Taoyuan City in northern Taiwan.
Festival d’Avignon, founded in 1947, is one of France’s most prestigious art events. The “Off” portion was introduced in 1968 to incorporate avant-garde and spontaneous performances at informal venues such as theater schools and restaurants.
Also established in 1947, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival celebrates arts and culture from around the world. Taiwan Season was first launched in 2014 to showcase the country’s creativity at the Fringe.
This year’s Fringe runs Aug. 1-25 and will see performances from Taipei-based Lu Production and Yinalang Group, Chun Dance from Taoyuan, Tainan-based Slashie With You Theatre.
The MOC pledged to continue its assistance and support for domestic troupes in order to allow them to enhance Taiwan’s global visibility, deepen their craft and make new cultural connections. (POC-E)
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