This event has been ended!
Stefan Kaegi / Rimini Protokoll | THIS IS NOT AN EMBASSY (Made in Taiwan) | Pražské křižovatky
Stefan Kaegi / Rimini Protokoll | THIS IS NOT AN EMBASSY (Made in Taiwan) | Prague intersections
Event by: Festival Pražské křižovatky
Location: The New Stage of the National Theater, Národní 1393, Praha 1
Tickets: Get tickets
Theatre
About event
*** FOR ENGLISH SCROLL DOWN ***
Imagine a territory that the majority of the world community does not recognize as a state, but nevertheless its diplomatic representation comes to life on stage at every performance. The production invites the audience to the opening of an imaginary embassy, which officially must not exist.
Taiwan's geographical location is part of the Ring of Fire (Pacific Rim), which is a zone along the shores of the Pacific Ocean characterized by extremely active volcanic activity, where huge tectonic plates collide and strong earthquakes often occur there. As unstable as its natural character is the political situation of the island, which is in the grip of Chinese power and threatens to become the focus of a major world conflict.
Although Taiwan has many allies and trading partners after throughout the world, no country can afford to mess with such an industrial power as China, and therefore its independence is not recognized by any European country except the Vatican. Thus, Taiwan came up with a new form of foreign policy – it establishes connections with other countries outside the scope of official diplomacy through non-governmental organizations and trade relations. So what would the Taiwanese representation look like on the theater boards? What flag, anthem and ritual would be appropriate for him today?
Concept and direction: Stefan Kaegi / Rimini Protokoll
Dramaturgy and assistant director: Szu-Ni Wen
Performers: Chiayo Kuo, Debby Szu-Ya Wang, David Chienkuo Wu
*** ENGLISH ***
This piece is an attempt to simulate the establishment of an impossible embassy. How would we imagine a territory that is not officially recognized as a state and yet comes to life on stage in every performance?
Geologically, Taiwan is part of the “Pacific Ring of Fire”, and seismically particularly active zone on the edge of the Pacific, where huge tectonic plates collide, leading to frequent major earthquakes. The island's political stability is similarly fragile and it is in danger of being crushed between power blocs and agitation.
Although Taiwan has many international friends and trading partners, no nation can afford to break with China as an industrial power, and so Taiwan is not recognized by any European country except the Vatican. In other words, Taiwan is just the most visible representative of this global dilemma. In this situation, Taiwan has developed a new form of foreign policy which allows it to create networks with others under the radar of official diplomacy, through NGOs and trade relations. So, how would a representation of Taiwan work onstage? Which flag, which anthem and which ritual would be appropriate for our time?
Concept and direction: Stefan Kaegi (Rimini Protokoll)
Dramaturgy & assistant director: Szu-Ni Wen
Cast: Chiayo Kuo, Debby Szu-Ya Wang, David Chienkuo Wu
Imagine a territory that the majority of the world community does not recognize as a state, but nevertheless its diplomatic representation comes to life on stage at every performance. The production invites the audience to the opening of an imaginary embassy, which officially must not exist.
Taiwan's geographical location is part of the Ring of Fire (Pacific Rim), which is a zone along the shores of the Pacific Ocean characterized by extremely active volcanic activity, where huge tectonic plates collide and strong earthquakes often occur there. As unstable as its natural character is the political situation of the island, which is in the grip of Chinese power and threatens to become the focus of a major world conflict.
Although Taiwan has many allies and trading partners after throughout the world, no country can afford to mess with such an industrial power as China, and therefore its independence is not recognized by any European country except the Vatican. Thus, Taiwan came up with a new form of foreign policy – it establishes connections with other countries outside the scope of official diplomacy through non-governmental organizations and trade relations. So what would the Taiwanese representation look like on the theater boards? What flag, anthem and ritual would be appropriate for him today?
Concept and direction: Stefan Kaegi / Rimini Protokoll
Dramaturgy and assistant director: Szu-Ni Wen
Performers: Chiayo Kuo, Debby Szu-Ya Wang, David Chienkuo Wu
*** ENGLISH ***
This piece is an attempt to simulate the establishment of an impossible embassy. How would we imagine a territory that is not officially recognized as a state and yet comes to life on stage in every performance?
Geologically, Taiwan is part of the “Pacific Ring of Fire”, and seismically particularly active zone on the edge of the Pacific, where huge tectonic plates collide, leading to frequent major earthquakes. The island's political stability is similarly fragile and it is in danger of being crushed between power blocs and agitation.
Although Taiwan has many international friends and trading partners, no nation can afford to break with China as an industrial power, and so Taiwan is not recognized by any European country except the Vatican. In other words, Taiwan is just the most visible representative of this global dilemma. In this situation, Taiwan has developed a new form of foreign policy which allows it to create networks with others under the radar of official diplomacy, through NGOs and trade relations. So, how would a representation of Taiwan work onstage? Which flag, which anthem and which ritual would be appropriate for our time?
Concept and direction: Stefan Kaegi (Rimini Protokoll)
Dramaturgy & assistant director: Szu-Ni Wen
Cast: Chiayo Kuo, Debby Szu-Ya Wang, David Chienkuo Wu