Taiwan International Theater Festival

Now in its second year, TIF, organised by National Chiang Kai-Shek Cultural Centre, which is known as NTCH - the initials of its two main venues National Theatre and Concert Hall - is already drawing attention from audiences around the world with 15 theatre programmes including five world premieres and seven Asian premieres, a total of 45 performances spanning six weeks.
"We focus on new creations and ideas and that's why the subtitle is 'Vision of the Future'," says NTCH's artistic director Chung-Shu Liu.
"Although the subtitle is the same as last year's, the focus is slightly different. The first one's was technology and arts; this year's is environment and diversity; and next year's will be love and peace."
"Almost half the festival programmes are local, and they represent the best of our country's traditional and contemporary performing arts, like Cloud Gate Theatre of Taiwan who will present the world premiere of 'Listening to the be based on traditional arts, otherwise we would not give them the budget," adds Tchen.
This year's line-up of European programmes is impressive, with many movers and shakers from France and Germany.
Liu said, "This is not just because our chairperson lived in France for many years, but also because the French Ministry of Culture is very well organised and very supportive."
in The 2010 Taiwan International Festival opens on Friday and runs until March 28 at National Chiang Kai-Shek Cultural Centre in Taipei.