News

The Department of Performing Arts at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) made a strong impression at the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe with two original productions, Mountains and Seas: A Rock Musical and Formosa Viva. The productions received enthusiastic responses from audiences and multiple star ratings from British theatre media, highlighting NTNU’s achievements in performing arts education, interdisciplinary creation, and international practice.

Mountains and Seas: A Rock Musical, directed by Professor Chi-Ming Liang, choreographed by Professor I-Fang Wu, and produced by Distinguished Professor Kang-Kuo Ho, draws inspiration from the work of Gao Xingjian. Blending rock music with Eastern mythology, the production brings traditional cultural narratives into dialogue with contemporary theatre.

The production received five stars from UK Theatre Web (UKTW), four stars from British Theatre Guide, Echo UK Theatre, and A Young(ish) Perspective, and three stars from The Scotsman. British Theatre Guide praised the 15 performers for bringing new vitality to ancient stories through contemporary music and modern theatrical training, noting that “the quality of the myths, music and performances seems to cross the generations” (Lamm, 2026). The Scotsman also praised the young performers for filling the performance space with “practiced grace” and highlighted the strength of the ensemble singing.

Formosa Viva, produced by Professor Kang-Kuo Ho, with Professor I-Fang Wu serving as choreographer and artistic director, transforms 500 years of Taiwan’s history into physical theatre through dance, movement, music, and visual imagery. The production was presented by 10 young participants in dance, technical production, and marketing selected through the Youth Dream Fund Project of the Youth Development Administration, Ministry of Education.

Theatre Village awarded Formosa Viva four stars, describing it as “graceful, peaceful and beautifully performed” and a “welcome moment of calm” amid the Edinburgh Fringe. The review also praised the performers’ talent, gracefulness, and control, concluding that the production was worth seeing for the quality of the performance alone (Theatre Village, 2026).

The international recognition of the two productions highlights NTNU’s growing presence on the global performing arts stage. By presenting works inspired by Eastern mythology and Taiwanese history at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, students had the opportunity to perform for international audiences, receive professional reviews, and experience the international theatre scene firsthand.

The success of Mountains and Seas: A Rock Musical and Formosa Viva demonstrates how Taiwanese cultural materials can be transformed through contemporary theatrical language and shared with international audiences. For NTNU’s Department of Performing Arts, the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe marked both an important achievement and another step toward deeper international engagement.