Cattle Depot Theatre Season — Autumn 2006 Aparture Diving / Director’s salon

Aparture Diving

Performed by the M.O.V.E. Theatre from Taiwan, this play, which combines dance and sound, draws from Samuel Beckett's play—“Play”. In the original drama, Beckett confines the characters' bodies in urns, allowing only their heads to speak, and only when illuminated by light. Under the direction of Fu Hong Zheng, the characters break free from the urns but find themselves trapped in water, emerging to speak only under the projection of light; harsh light, cunning light, light that smiles at you... The complexity and absurdity of humanity are laid bare.

Director & Playwright: Fu Hong Zheng

Director's Salon

Theme: Turning Away from Beckett—The Ultimate in Transcending Language

Some say that Beckett's later plays, in both content and form, became increasingly minimalist, heralding the “death of language”, yet others believe this opened up new possibilities for non-verbal “texts”. Some view Beckettian texts as the pinnacle of theatrical language, an unshakeable fortress; however, others argue that modern theatre must move beyond Beckett's minimalism to create entirely new imaginations and perceptions.

Five directors and three groups of actors engage in a four-day exchange, sharing their ideas on theatrical styles and narrative techniques, and rehearsing methods. The event culminates in a Director's Salon evening, where they share their insights with the audience.

Participating directors: Chan Ping-chiu, Pang Ka-wing, Carmen Lo, Leung Shing-him, Weigo Lee

Date: 2-4/9/2006

Venue: Cattle Depot Theatre

Presented by M.O.V.E Theater Group (Taiwan)

Director and Playwright: Fu Hung-cheng