Drama performed on Taiwan’s first underwater stage

Drama performed on Taiwan’s first underwater stage

2024-04-12

Dancing underwater isn’t easy to begin with, but what about staging an entire drama?
At one sports center, performers have created Taiwan’s first play staged entirely underwater. It’s streamed via underwater camera. Complete with music and narration, the performers set the scene for a new form of artistic diving.

Dancers are rehearsing by the pool. No, you didn’t see that wrong. In a moment, they’re about to submerge 5 meters underwater.

Aquatic dancing is a new art form itself, but now they are also incorporating a plot to create a full stage play.

Anita
Theater director
After training to be an aquatic dancing coach, I wanted to create a more performative style, so I thought of staging a play in order to incorporate some emotion. It can attract a greater audience this way.

A-hsi
Performer
I think apart from dancing, there are a lot of performances and movements you can’t do on land, but can be done in the water.

Taiwan’s first aquatic drama was staged at a local sports center. The performers need a basic level of ability to participate, but they live scattered across the country and admit they don’t have much time to practice together.

Barbie
Performer
This is an ensemble performance, so I think our tacit understanding of each other, such as time spent underwater, time holding our breath and cooperation is very important.

As the stage is in a diving pool, the performance is captured on an underwater camera and projected on a screen. Paired with music and narration, audiences are immersed into the story and treated to a feast for the senses.

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全台首創水舞舞台劇呈現潛水表演新型態

2024-04-12

在水中跳舞不簡單，如果還要搭配劇情演出舞台劇，有可能嗎？國內運動中心推出全台首創水舞舞台劇，把場景搬到水中，現場透過拍攝傳輸投影技術，搭配音樂和主持人帶入情境，要呈現全新的潛水表演型態。

在泳池邊排練舞蹈，你沒看錯，因為下一秒，場景就要來到水下五米。

這是新興的水舞運動，不過現在，舞者們還要搭配劇情，演出舞台劇。

[[水舞舞台劇總監 Anita]]
“學了水舞的教練之後，我想要做一個表演性的方式，所以我就想到了用舞台劇的方式帶入一些情緒，這樣可以抓住觀眾”

[[水舞舞台劇演員阿喜]]
“我覺得除了舞蹈以外，你可以把很多在陸地上沒有辦法展現的表演跟動作，在水裡都可以一一展現”

國內運動中心推出全台首創水舞舞台劇，演員要有一定的水舞底子，才能參與演出。不過大家平時分散在北中南，坦言聚在一起團練的時間並不多。

[[水舞舞台劇演員芭比]]
“這是一個團體的表演，所以我覺得彼此的默契，包括下水的時間、閉氣的時間，互相的配合，其實我覺得是最重要的”

把舞台搬到潛水池，現場透過水下拍攝傳輸投影設備，搭配音樂和主持人，帶入情境，以全新的潛水表演型態，要帶給觀眾不同的感官饗宴。

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Five more new Cabinet appointments announced

Ahead of president-elect Lai Ching-te’s inauguration on May 20th, premier-designate Cho Jung-tai on Friday announced five new Cabinet appointments. Most notably, the new culture minister will be novelist and screenwriter Li Yuan, better known as Hsiao Yeh, who has links to with the camp of opposition TPP chairman Ko Wen-je. Li once headed Ko’s reelection campaign for Taipei mayor. The appointment may be DPP’s way of tossing Ko’s camp a bone, as his party holds the balance of power in the legislature, but Li insists he doesn’t have any political affiliations.

On Friday, a second round of new Cabinet appointments was announced by premier-designate Cho Jung-tai. One of the highlights was Hsiao Yeh as culture minister. The writer, whose birth name is Li Yuan, once served as the director for Ko Wen-je’s reelection campaign as Taipei mayor.

Cho Jung-tai
Premier-designate
Cultural people find that the public sector actually has a different working environment, but I am very glad that Li Yuan decided to join our action innovation cabinet without hesitation following careful consideration.

Li Yuan (Hsiao Yeh)
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I was only asked about this after the beginning of April. I hesitated for a long time, because my family was very worried as they thought I should not be taking on any official duties at this time. I don’t know why people kept asking Ko Wen-je about this. In fact, the reason why they solicited me, they said, was that I had worked in movies and television, and I’ve written more than 100 literary works of my own. I don’t belong to any political party or have any political affiliation.

In addition to recruiting Hsiao Yeh to realize president-elect Lai Ching-te’s vision of a "grand democratic alliance," the second round of new appointments also includes former lawmaker Liu Shih-fang, who will take over the interior ministry, Taiwan’s largest agency. Meanwhile, current Executive Yuan Secretary General Li Meng-yen will be transport minister. The chief prosecutor at the Taipei District Prosecutor’s Office Cheng Ming-chien will serve as justice minister, while Cheng Ying-yao, the president of National Sun Yat-sen University, who has twice served as the head of education for the Kaohsiung City government, will be the new education minister.

Cho Jung-tai
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In the future, we’ll have to refer to her as Minister Shih-fang. She has experience in regional governance in Taiwan’s northern central and southern regions, as well as the outlying islands. Minister Shih-fang will be entrusted with the most difficult responsibilities issues relating to corruption, gambling, public security and campus safety.

Seeing that there are only 38 days left before inauguration day, there are many rumors flying in the media as several appointments still have not been announced.

Cho Jung-tai
Premier-designate
If I haven’t mentioned anything officially, and if a name crops up, it would be extremely awkward, especially if I consult a particular person for the job, while another person’s name appears in the media. When we first meet face-to-face, it will be very embarrassing, the person will wonder if they are a backup or if I have any more backups in store.

No one knows when the new Cabinet will be finalized, Cho can only say that it will be done before May 20.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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US, Japan, and Philippine Leaders Meet to Counter China’s Maritime Aggressions

U.S. President Joe Biden hosted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Junior in a White House summit Thursday, sending a clear message to Beijing to stop behaving aggressively against its neighbors in the South China Sea. Leaders focused on dealing with Chinese so-called grey zone tactics of intimidation that fall dangerously close to triggering a mutual defense treaty between Washington and Manila. VOA’s Patsy Widakuswara has the story.

Ramped up aggression in the South China Sea, with Chinese Coast Guard vessels deploying water cannons and performing other dangerous maneuvers on Philippine boats.

It was a focus of the trilateral summit Thursday between President Joe Biden and leaders of two U.S. allies in Asia - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Joe Biden
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Any attack on Philippine aircraft, vessels or armed forces in the South China Sea would invoke our mutual defense treaty.

China’s so-called gray zone tactics of intimidation, including ramming into ships fall dangerously close to triggering the mutual defense treaty between Washington and Manila. Marcos did not publicly mention China but couched his words in diplomatic terms often used to target Beijing.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
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Facing the complex challenges of our time requires concerted efforts on everyone’s part, a dedication to a common purpose and an unwavering commitment to the rules-based international order.

Kishida is concerned with similar Chinese tactics around disputed islands in the East China Sea, called Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan.

Fumio Kishida
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In the midst of compound crises faced by the global community, multilayered cooperation between allies and like-minded countries is essential if we are to maintain and bolster a free and open international order based on the rule of law.

Last week, the Philippines, the U.S., Japan and Australia held joint naval and air operations in the South China Sea to deter Beijing, prompting criticism by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.

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China is resolutely opposed to the Cold War mentality and bloc politics, and to words and deeds that make and exacerbate contradictions and undermine other countries’ strategic security and interests.

Biden, Marcos and Kishida announced new maritime defense deterrence measures, alongside infrastructure investments in the Philippines and collaboration on global humanitarian assistance efforts.

Patsy Widakuswara, VOA News, Washington.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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Maiden EVA Air Kaohsiung-Hong Kong flight takes off

For the first time in nine years, more flight options are coming to Kaohsiung International Airport. On Friday, EVA Air inaugurated a new direct flight route to Hong Kong, in hopes of attracting more visitors to Taiwan. And just in time for the summer break, T’way and VietJet Air will be launching flights to South Korea and Vietnam from the southern port city.

For the first time in nine years, EVA Air has launched a new flight route from Kaohsiung. Its destination: Hong Kong. On Friday, the maiden flight took off packed with passengers, some of whom were simply there for the experience.

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I’m actually going to Taipei. I’ll be transferring flights in Hong Kong. I just wanted to go on the first flight, it’s an interesting experience.

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The number of flights is back to 70% of pre-pandemic levels. We have also been receiving a lot of messages with proposals to increase flight numbers and flight routes. So we should all take advantage of these opportunities.

Kaohsiung International Airport expects traveler numbers to grow with the new destinations on offer. Officials say they are optimistic about the resumption of all flight routes that were canceled during the pandemic, adding that they will make efforts toward that while maintaining flight safety.

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Kaohsiung Municipal Min-Sheng Hospital has been slapped with a fine of half a million New Taiwan dollars after it was found that a surgery had been performed on the wrong patient earlier this month. The medical personnel involved, including the surgeon, had skipped the SOP and failed to confirm the patient’s identity before the operation. It was also later found that the surgeon involved had asked the patient to sign a surgery consent form after the matter. Needless to say, the surgeon in question has been fired.

The patient had been transferred from a care center to Kaohsiung Municipal Min-Sheng Hospital, where he was confused for another patient in his ward. In the operating theater, neither the nurses, the anesthesiologist nor the surgeon confirmed the patient’s identity as required.

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This was a very basic mistake on the part of Min-Sheng hospital. It’s very unprofessional. It shows that there were oversights on the management front.

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A former diplomat, Taiwanese digital activist,and musician tell stories of Taiwan’s political and diplomatic history.

The 2024 Taiwan International Festival of Arts is back in action. This stage production, titled "This Is Not an Embassy," is a joint production between Taiwan’s National Theater and Concert Hall and Germany’s Rimini Protokoll, and Switzerland’s Theatre Vidy-Lausanne. Teams worked together for two years to produce the work. They interviewed diplomats, soldiers, and secret agents to learn about Taiwan.

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Should we be called Taiwan or the Republic of China? What should the national flag look like? This has different meanings and notions for people of different eras. We are introducing the complex political situation of Taiwan to people in the world. But at the same time, we are showing the greatness of Taiwan. Everyone can have their own beliefs.

The show will be performed in Taiwan from April 12 to 14. It will also be performed in Switzerland, South Korea, Germany, France, Australia Spain, and other countries. Each production will be tailored to the country in which it is performed.

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Director of artistic projects
Each time we will perform in a new city, we will open a new embassy of Taiwan for the duration of the show. For all these openings of new embassies, we will adapt the show to the local situation. Each time, we have to reflect on the local stories and the local connections to Taiwanese history to Taiwan situation, and also to China.

During the festival, there will be a total of 14 performances. The performing groups and artists hail from Taiwan, the U.S., Japan, Germany, India, Switzerland, Spain, Ukraine, South Korea and Australia, among other countries. The 2024 Taiwan International Festival of Arts will run till May 11.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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