The 2025 Taichung Playful Stage Theatre Life Festival will be held from August 9 to 24 at Chung Shan Hall, bringing arts into everyday life with a vibrant lineup of performances, exhibitions, and a unique overnight theater experience. At the July 25 press conference, Chief Secretary Hsiao Ching-Ping of the Cultural Affairs Bureau announced the festival’s full upgrade, promising a rich day-to-night cultural journey. She thanked ASE Cultural and Educational Foundation and Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd. for their support in creating Taichung’s one-of-a-kind “Playful Stage” summer event.
According to the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the Taichung Playful Stage Theatre Life Festival is the largest annual theatrical celebration of Chung Shan Hall. This year’s program includes the new production “The Beast Sent Us,” a collaboration between MAD Theater and senior participants, premiering August 10 at 2:30 p.m. Free tickets are available at cultural centers and Chung Shan Hall. Another highlight is “YArt! YArt! Night at Chung Shan Hall,” where participants will stay overnight in the theater on August 16–17 and 22–23, enjoying immersive night performances by Fantou Performing Arts, Wind Moving Chamber Ensemble, and storytelling by Pa Pa Lu’s STP Theater. Registration is now open. The ticketed closing show “Princess 100% 2: Birthday Surprise” by Wind Sound Ensemble takes place on August 23. For more details on performances and ticketing, please visit Taichung Chung Shan Hall’s official website.
On August 9 at 2:30 p.m., the plaza will host a lively opening market and street shows. Attendees who collect stamps at the event can redeem them for limited-edition gifts. At 4:00 p.m., the “Voices of the People: A Cultural Music Concert” will feature amateur musicians, the Taichung Chamber Choir, and a guest group from Kuching, Malaysia. Attendees can also enjoy public access to two grand pianos—Bösendorfer and Fazioli—at Taichung City Dadun Cultural Center and Chung Shan Hall from August 9 to 24. Come and be a “pianist of the city”!

According to Taichung City Dadun Cultural Center, Chung Shan Hall has served as a key performing arts venue in central Taiwan for 35 years and is now transitioning into a “civic theater.” Following the success of last year’s inaugural Taichung Playful Stage Theatre Art Festival, this year’s event has been upgraded to the Taichung Playful Stage Theatre Life Festival, offering accessible arts through co-creation, choral theater workshops, and interdisciplinary lectures. Residents are invited to come “play the theater” this summer. Visit Chung Shan Hall’s website (https://hall.culture.taichung.gov.tw/) or the Dadun Cultural Center Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/dadunculture/) for details.