Bat Night Market
A marketplace for the mind, an experience for the senses. Step outside your comfort zone and into a night market of the future.
Bat Night Market tells the tales of the extraordinary bat species, examining their imperative nature in our global ecosystem and teaching us that conservation of the key species is more crucial now than ever before.
As audiences embark on this strange journey into a futuristic Asian night market, we are invited to explore what interspecies resourcefulness and creative food solutions might look like, in the not-so-distant future, and in the face of the climate crisis.
Set in an imagined night market where bat species are extinct, Bat Night Market intersects performance, speculative design and science. We invite visitors to celebrate these enigmatic animals in an evening of discussions, games, tastings and sensory experiences.
Bat Night Market tells the tales of the extraordinary bat species, examining their imperative nature in our global ecosystem and teaching us that conservation of the key species is more crucial now than ever before.
As audiences embark on this strange journey into a futuristic Asian night market, we are invited to explore what interspecies resourcefulness and creative food solutions might look like, in the not-so-distant future, and in the face of the climate crisis.
Set in an imagined night market where bat species are extinct, Bat Night Market intersects performance, speculative design and science. We invite visitors to celebrate these enigmatic animals in an evening of discussions, games, tastings and sensory experiences.
This project is a collaborative creation with British designer Robert Johnson, co-produced internationally between the Taipei Arts Festival and the London International Festival of Theatre (LIFT). The project spans a two-year period, from 2022 to 2024, dedicated to creation and research. Set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, it uses design to explore cultural issues reflected in the scientific study of bats. It examines how humanity consumes nature, prompted by the lifestyle shifts triggered by the global pandemic.
The project invites audiences to debate, critically reflect on, and interpret a series of complex issues, including racism, colonialism, nativism, environmentalism, the future of food, genetics and biotechnology, global fear, and the relationships between humans and non-human species. Collaborating with numerous scientists, the project integrates participatory performances featuring food, as well as visual and material representations of species boundaries. It aims to sketch future narratives infused with scientific knowledge, enabling audiences to rethink the intricate relationships between humans and other non-human beings within the scenarios constructed by the artists.
Through co-creation across Taiwan and the UK, the project seeks to analyze the differences in themes such as food culture and the human-nature relationship under Eastern and Western cultural contexts, engaging audiences from diverse cultural backgrounds.
The project invites audiences to debate, critically reflect on, and interpret a series of complex issues, including racism, colonialism, nativism, environmentalism, the future of food, genetics and biotechnology, global fear, and the relationships between humans and non-human species. Collaborating with numerous scientists, the project integrates participatory performances featuring food, as well as visual and material representations of species boundaries. It aims to sketch future narratives infused with scientific knowledge, enabling audiences to rethink the intricate relationships between humans and other non-human beings within the scenarios constructed by the artists.
Through co-creation across Taiwan and the UK, the project seeks to analyze the differences in themes such as food culture and the human-nature relationship under Eastern and Western cultural contexts, engaging audiences from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Bat Night Market at Science Gallery London, as part of London International Festival of Theatre (LIFT)
Bat Night Market at Science Gallery London, as part of London International Festival of Theatre (LIFT) 2024
photo by Ellie Kurttz
photo by Ellie Kurttz
Credit
Team:
Lead Artist: Kuang-Yi Ku
Lead Artist: Robert Johnson
Dramaturg: Ding-Yun Huang
Food Artist: Rain Wu
UK Producer: Hao-Wen Lin
Taiwan Producer: Hui-Chun Chan
Production Manager: Charlotte Ranson
Stage Manager: Shuyin Stella Wang, Ting-Ning Wen
Lead Technician: Myles Robinson
Production Electrician: Johnny Wilson
Lead Install Crew: Toby Lindley, Lewis Champney
Set Builders: Matt Jones, Josh Banks for Those Guys Creative Solutions
Producer (Phase 1 and 2 R&D): Chun-Ting Chen
Scientists: Gemma Bowsher, Martha Gallardo Galaviz, Lucy Di-Silvio, Cheng-Han Chou, Wei-Lun Sun
Motion Graphics Director: Chia-Hua Lee
Motion Graphics Designer: Xuanjie Huang, Deer Sheng
Captioning Editor: Chinghan Chen, Tzu-Chieh Lo
Graphic Designer: Po-Chun Chou
Videographer: Heather Pasfield
Director of Photography: Ben Woodbridge
Soundscape Design & Music: The Electronic and Produced Music Department, Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Music Director: Barbara De Biasi
Lead Sound Designer: Bronte Tucker
Composers: Oliwia Radomska, Tongyu Wu, Eleanor Fineston-Robertson, Annabel Brooks, Theo Lees
Sound Designers: Oliwia Radomska, Taha Kagzi, Chester Tribley
Game Design Engineer: Chia-Hung Lin
Chef: Luke Keyte
Performers: Vinna Law, Steve Lok, Robin Khor Yong Kuan, Marian Lee, Diana Feng, Jacqui Ong
Dramaturg Assistant: Shupin Liu
Production Assistants: Yu-Ting Liu, Jack Mckeown, Yewon Kim, George Kilner, Veera Bagasaria, Angela Wang
Science Gallery London Team:
Head of Programming: Jen Wong
Head of Production & Operations: Alastair Frazer
Special thanks to
Greta Hewison, Matt Fryer, Jocelyn Cheek, Kitty Clark, Jack Baker
TPAC Team:
Curator: River Lin
Producer: Lin-Hui Wang
Special thanks to Charlene Lin & Mei-Yin Chen from TPAC
LIFT Team:
Artistic Director & CEO: Kris Nelson
Head of Programme & Producing: Amaya Jeyarajah Dent
Production Manager: Jo Palmer
Administrative Producer: Karan Kaul
LIFT Technical Placement: Anson To
LIFT Programme Placement: Katie Squirrel
Supported by:
Cockayne Grants for the Arts, a donor advised fund at the London Community Foundation
Science Gallery London, part of King’s College London
The Embassy of the Netherlands in the UK
British Council
Ministry of Culture ROC (Taiwan)
The Taipei Representative Office
National Culture and Arts Foundation (NCAF), Taiwan
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Garrick Charitable Trust
The Leche Trust
BAO London
Goldsmiths University of London
Taipei Performing Arts Centre (TPAC)
Robin Collective
Wheelcake Island
Deafinitely Theatre
Donmar Warehouse
Kiln Theatre
Team:
Lead Artist: Kuang-Yi Ku
Lead Artist: Robert Johnson
Dramaturg: Ding-Yun Huang
Food Artist: Rain Wu
UK Producer: Hao-Wen Lin
Taiwan Producer: Hui-Chun Chan
Production Manager: Charlotte Ranson
Stage Manager: Shuyin Stella Wang, Ting-Ning Wen
Lead Technician: Myles Robinson
Production Electrician: Johnny Wilson
Lead Install Crew: Toby Lindley, Lewis Champney
Set Builders: Matt Jones, Josh Banks for Those Guys Creative Solutions
Producer (Phase 1 and 2 R&D): Chun-Ting Chen
Scientists: Gemma Bowsher, Martha Gallardo Galaviz, Lucy Di-Silvio, Cheng-Han Chou, Wei-Lun Sun
Motion Graphics Director: Chia-Hua Lee
Motion Graphics Designer: Xuanjie Huang, Deer Sheng
Captioning Editor: Chinghan Chen, Tzu-Chieh Lo
Graphic Designer: Po-Chun Chou
Videographer: Heather Pasfield
Director of Photography: Ben Woodbridge
Soundscape Design & Music: The Electronic and Produced Music Department, Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Music Director: Barbara De Biasi
Lead Sound Designer: Bronte Tucker
Composers: Oliwia Radomska, Tongyu Wu, Eleanor Fineston-Robertson, Annabel Brooks, Theo Lees
Sound Designers: Oliwia Radomska, Taha Kagzi, Chester Tribley
Game Design Engineer: Chia-Hung Lin
Chef: Luke Keyte
Performers: Vinna Law, Steve Lok, Robin Khor Yong Kuan, Marian Lee, Diana Feng, Jacqui Ong
Dramaturg Assistant: Shupin Liu
Production Assistants: Yu-Ting Liu, Jack Mckeown, Yewon Kim, George Kilner, Veera Bagasaria, Angela Wang
Science Gallery London Team:
Head of Programming: Jen Wong
Head of Production & Operations: Alastair Frazer
Special thanks to
Greta Hewison, Matt Fryer, Jocelyn Cheek, Kitty Clark, Jack Baker
TPAC Team:
Curator: River Lin
Producer: Lin-Hui Wang
Special thanks to Charlene Lin & Mei-Yin Chen from TPAC
LIFT Team:
Artistic Director & CEO: Kris Nelson
Head of Programme & Producing: Amaya Jeyarajah Dent
Production Manager: Jo Palmer
Administrative Producer: Karan Kaul
LIFT Technical Placement: Anson To
LIFT Programme Placement: Katie Squirrel
Supported by:
Cockayne Grants for the Arts, a donor advised fund at the London Community Foundation
Science Gallery London, part of King’s College London
The Embassy of the Netherlands in the UK
British Council
Ministry of Culture ROC (Taiwan)
The Taipei Representative Office
National Culture and Arts Foundation (NCAF), Taiwan
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Garrick Charitable Trust
The Leche Trust
BAO London
Goldsmiths University of London
Taipei Performing Arts Centre (TPAC)
Robin Collective
Wheelcake Island
Deafinitely Theatre
Donmar Warehouse
Kiln Theatre
Bat Night Market at Taipei Performing Arts Center, as part of Taipei Arts Festival 2024
Bat Night Market at Taipei Performing Arts Center, as part of Taipei Arts Festival 2024
photo by 蔡耀徵 / 臺北表演藝術中心提供
photo by 蔡耀徵 / 臺北表演藝術中心提供
Credit
Lead Artist: Ku Kuang-Yi
Lead Artist: Robert Johnson
Dramaturg: Huang Ding-Yun
Food Artist: Rain Wu
Chef team & Chef: The Studio (Jessica Lin)
Taiwan Producer: Chan Hui-Chun (Holly)
UK Producer: Lin Hao-Wen
Scientists: Chou Cheng-Han, Gemma Bowsher, Martha Gallardo Galaviz, Lucy Di-Silvio
Graphic Designer: Chou Po-Chun
Motion Graphics Director: Lee Chia-Hua
Motion Graphics Assistants: Huang Xuan-Jie, Deer Sheng
Stage Manager: Chen Yi-Chen
Stage Technical Director: Yu Ray-Pei
Video Engineer: He Yu-Wei
Live Sound Engineer: Blackrice Creative Studio LTD.
Lighting Designer and Master electrician: Lien Ssu-Yun
Performers: Kao Nai-Sen, Lin Fang-Fang, Sora Ling, Tsai Cheng-Han, Yang Qi-Yin
(listed in alphabetical order of the last name)
Executive Producer: Chen Yu-Zhe
Production Facilitation: Holly Production Studio
Special Thanks to Chen Chun-Ting, Luke Keyte, Sun Wei-Lun
Funded by ARTWAVE and the British Council as part of the International Collaboration Grants
Lead Artist: Ku Kuang-Yi
Lead Artist: Robert Johnson
Dramaturg: Huang Ding-Yun
Food Artist: Rain Wu
Chef team & Chef: The Studio (Jessica Lin)
Taiwan Producer: Chan Hui-Chun (Holly)
UK Producer: Lin Hao-Wen
Scientists: Chou Cheng-Han, Gemma Bowsher, Martha Gallardo Galaviz, Lucy Di-Silvio
Graphic Designer: Chou Po-Chun
Motion Graphics Director: Lee Chia-Hua
Motion Graphics Assistants: Huang Xuan-Jie, Deer Sheng
Stage Manager: Chen Yi-Chen
Stage Technical Director: Yu Ray-Pei
Video Engineer: He Yu-Wei
Live Sound Engineer: Blackrice Creative Studio LTD.
Lighting Designer and Master electrician: Lien Ssu-Yun
Performers: Kao Nai-Sen, Lin Fang-Fang, Sora Ling, Tsai Cheng-Han, Yang Qi-Yin
(listed in alphabetical order of the last name)
Executive Producer: Chen Yu-Zhe
Production Facilitation: Holly Production Studio
Special Thanks to Chen Chun-Ting, Luke Keyte, Sun Wei-Lun
Funded by ARTWAVE and the British Council as part of the International Collaboration Grants