•Publication Date：05/13/2014
•Source： Taiwan Today
A Taiwan-made musical exploring the Dutch colonial history of Formosa is set to premiere May 24 in Tainan City, southern Taiwan.
Set in 17th century Fort Zeelandia, also known as Anping Fort, in present-day Tainan, “Zeelandia—Return to Formosa” follows the romance between a young Dutch army officer of mixed ancestry and an indigenous Siraya woman.
Created by a Taiwan team, the musical incorporated an international roster in its production, including director Jeffrey Dunn, librettist Norman Szabo and actors Igor Kovic, Vicente Fortunato C. Moran and Giovanni Voneki.
Executive producer Derek Lin, who wrote the play’s music and lyrics, said he began working on the project eight years ago.
With a passion for Broadway-style theater, Lin left his lucrative job at a multinational electronics corporation and dedicated himself to creating a production that would put Taiwan on the international musical map.
Lin said he spent his childhood in Africa with his diplomat father, an experience endowing him with a unique insight into colonial culture, national history and racial integration, along with a profound understanding of Taiwan’s diplomatic situation.
The musical enables a bridge to be built between homegrown productions and Broadway, as well as Taiwan and the world, Lin added.
Fort Zeelandia was constructed in the 1620s by the Dutch East India Co. It served as a strategic stronghold and thriving trading center for the company in Formosa, present-day Taiwan.
Until the Dutch surrender to Gen. Cheng Cheng-kung, aka Koxinga, in 1662, Formosa was a key component of the company’s trading empire. This stretched from the Netherlands to Japan and Indonesia.
