PRODUCTION Othello [Zhenfeng duijue]
Data Type:production background
Title:Through Theatre We Praise - Wonderful World
Source:Othello Performance Program
Publisher:Godot Theatre Company [Guotuo juchang]
Date:2008/8
Pages:4-5
Language:English
Abstract:a brief history of the Godot Theatre Company and its objectives
1988, Godot produced our first production, the one-scene play The Zoo Story. Since then, in 20 years, we have produced 50 productions, including Chinese and foreign scripts, contemporary and all-time classics. We want to share with the audience a wonderful world. We never preach. When the audiences walk into the theater with their tickets, they enter a fantastic world Godot has created. The line between reality and fantasy is erased and a bountiful spiritual adventure is about to begin.

The Beginning-changing times, unchanging love
In the late 80’s, Taiwan’s economy was still steadily growing. Yet, one after another major performance groups, including Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, Lan Ling Theatre Workshop and other performing groups, quit and created huge shock waves throughout the budding performing art industry. Godot was founded in this backdrop. Just as Dickens said: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” In the first ten years, Godot had witnessed the ups and downs of our local economy, the despairs and hopes of the cultural community, the birth of Taiwan’s democracy, and wars around the globe…Throughout this turmoil, Godot has always upheld our belief, insisting on producing works that allowed the audience to witness the unchanging love and humanity in a changing time.

Growing Strong-What would you like to see tonight?
In the first 10 years, with an adventurous spirit and unyielding insistence, Godot not only championed at the box office, but also changed a lot of people attitude toward the arts. Art was no longer unreachable. In the following 10 years, Godot put its effort into both performances and also education. We not only recruited talents for our productions, but also provided courses to train new talents. Meanwhile, we gradually established a strong and healthy administrative structure for advertisement, financing, ticketing, membership, services and other theater-related businesses, hence becoming one of the most important performing groups in Taiwan. We are innovative, and we continuously change the scope of Chinese musicals. We have new productions that dazzle the audience each and every year. Our productions are no longer limited in Taiwan. We have performed in more than 30 cities worldwide, including USA, Canada, and Mainland China. Almost everyday, a Godot production is performed somewhere in the world. Every day, somebody asks: “What would you like to see tonight?”

Building a Wonderful World
The times never stop changing, just like Godot has never lost faith. No matter how the environment changed, we never complained. We always believe that as long as we don’t give up, we will always have a chance. As long as we have hope, we will have our dreams fulfilled. In Communicating Doors, Ruei-Lian opened the door and changed the fate of three women; In Little Town of Tanshui, Emily realized how precious life is after her trip; In The Apartment, Pao-Te Wu found a trace of kindness in his heart despite all that had happened. In the life of these stage characters, Godot always showcases the bright and commendable part of the humanity because we know that the world is indeed wonderful. At least, we can learn to make the world better through theater. We have been working at it for 20 years, and we will continue to praise this Wonderful World.