The Fringe’s Taiwan Season has been a welcome presence throughout the festival since its inception in 2014, carving out a unique space in Edinburgh with its dynamic and inventive programme of theatre, interpretive dance and innovative talks.  

Corralling the shows this year is the theme ‘A Glimpse Of Taiwan’, which presents four works mixing ingenuity and originality. Light Of Life (Assembly George Square, until 28 August, 1pm) by the long-established Diabolo Dance Theatre, is emblematic of the creativity on display in the season. This multimedia circus performance uses the Taiwanese toy diabolo to spin a magical tale of sea goddesses and the four elements. Placing an exciting twist on traditional Taiwanese culture, it’s an awe-inspiring acrobatic spectacle for all ages. 

^{TOMATO / Picture: Chou Kuan Jou}

Combining feminism and sex positivity with absurdist dance is TOMATO (Summerhall, until 28 August, 3.10pm), which showcases the skills and playful humour of choreographer Chou Kuan Jou. The production, which includes live camera documentation as part of its performance, sees three dancers explore sexuality in scenes rife with humour and wit. Want a dance performance with some bite? This is the show for you. 

Wrestling with humanist issues is Shinehouse Theatre’s original work The Whisper Of The Waves (Summerhall, until 28 August, 4.10pm). The show follows the life of a lonely taxi driver and his beloved pot plant, and a same-sex couple debating the merits of surrogate parenting, as they pick up the pieces from a major disaster. Their travails are communicated indirectly through a spirit medium in poetic monologues layered with hope, empathy and an astute understanding of complex social discussions.

See You (Summerhall, until 28 August, 5.30pm) continues the season’s theme of the modern meeting the traditional, as dance derived from t’ai chi blends with contemporary concerns. Here, well regarded director Lai Hung-Chung takes the unknowable complexity of the human mind and presents it in dance form. In doing so, he studies antisocial characters, attempting to understand their failure to connect with those around them and, by extension, the increasing detachment of society in a globalised world. 

^{The Whisper Of The Waves, Shineshouse Theatre / Picture: Terry Lin}

Complementing the performances are three Connecting With Taiwan seminars, available both online or as free ticketed events, taking place throughout August. These 90-minute talks will expand on themes tackled in the ‘A Glimpse Of Taiwan’ programme, starting with Experimentation And Innovation: Crossing Boundaries In Digital And Performing Arts (Online, 15 August, 11am), which explores the link between online and live shows, and how the world of live touring has altered in the aftermath of covid.

Next is Loud And Clear And In Sight: Female Visibility And Creative Voices In The Performing Arts (Dance Base, 15 August, 1.15pm), a timely discussion on the prominence of female artists in the wake of Taiwan’s first edition of the WOW (Women of the World) Festival, as well as cultural diversity, equality and increasing opportunities for women artists in Taiwan and abroad.

Finally, Knowledge In Action: How Performance-Makers Address Climate Change (Fringe Central, 16 August, 1.30pm) compiles and presents case studies on climate change in a brainstorming session on how performers can harness sustainability in their practice. 

Find the full Taiwan Season programme at twseason-edfringe.com.