LIFE of PI Leads the Summer Hype at 2025 NTT-FUN

LIFE of PI

Counting down the four most anticipated productions of this year’s NTT Summer Fun Time (NTT-FUN)—the annual summer signature series that brings family-friendly programs to the public at the National Taichung Theater (NTT). The 2025 lineup offers adventure, wonder, and thrill for all ages. Storming into the season with the highest anticipation is the globally acclaimed stage production of LIFE of PI, a renowned story that has captivated audiences across literature, film, and theater. Riding its waves of magic, The Lighthouse by Patch Theatre will kick off the summer with light and wonders through innovative interactions. At the same time, Elements of Freestyle by ISH Dance Collective brings the exciting fusion of extreme sports and dance. Meanwhile, The Peony Lantern by Unique Puppet Theater delivers a hauntingly beautiful retelling of a classic ghost story in the East.

LIFE of PI (Photo credit: Johan Persson)

Adapted from the world-renowned novel and film, the play LIFE of PI vividly brings the title role, Pi’s 227-day journey adrift on the ocean, to life. Alongside Pi, a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker shines as another star of the show, brought to life by three to four puppeteers—each controlling different parts to convey the most subtle emotions through remarkable teamwork. As Pi navigates his survival alongside the tiger, their evolving dynamic becomes the heart of the story, ultimately shaping how the audience perceives the truth. With its breathtaking set design and astonishingly lifelike puppetry, the production has succeeded in reincarnating the premises of the story on stage, bringing new surprises to its audiences, and earning widespread acclaim with the 2022 Laurance Oliver Awards in five categories, including the ‘Best New Play’ and the 2023 Tony Awards in three categories, including the ‘Best Scenic Design of a Play’.

Making its Asia tour in Taiwan, LIFE of PI holds a special connection to Taichung, where cinema director Ang LEE filmed major ocean scenes for the award-winning movie version. Today, the story returns in a new form, bringing the magic of live theater to the city that helped shape its legacy. As the highlight of NTT Summer Fun Time, tickets for LIFE of PI will be available to the public on 7 May. Come witness the pinnacle of stagecraft in a city that played a role in its global success. From 31 Jul – 3 Aug, step into a mesmerizing world of philosophical fantasy, where the truth is what you choose to believe.

The Lighthouse (Photo credit: Matt Byrne)

As the NTT Summer Fun Time opening program, The Lighthouse by Australia’s Patch Theatre offers a highly interactive experience, blending imaginative engagement with innovative lighting design. Dedicated to inspiring young audiences aged 4 to 8, Patch Theatre is a recipient of Australia’s prestigious Helpmann Awards and has produced over 100 remarkable works since its founding in 1972.

Designed to captivate children and adults, The Lighthouse invites visitors on an hour-long journey through a cosmic dreamland of light, science, and music. With immersive visuals and hands-on exploration, audiences are free to explore—to see, touch, and hear light in ways that feel almost too magical to look away. From 5 – 13 Jul, the NTT Summer Fun Time welcomes all ages to the magically transformed Grand Theater stage, engaging with a fantastical dialog in the universe of The Lighthouse and setting the imagination free.

Elements of Freestyle (Photo credit: Alex Brenner)

This August, prepare for two spine-tingling experiences—one fueled by adrenaline-pumping actions and the other steeped in the haunting beauty of a ghostly romance.

In Elements of Freestyle by ISH Dance Collective, twelve professional performers practically take the stage, blending street culture and urban sports into a high-energy spectacle. With daring stunts and choreographed artistry, the show fuses hip-hop, breaking, parkour, skateboarding, and more, turning the stage into a vibrant playground of action and music.

Following the excitement, The Peony Lantern offers an eerie yet poetic ghost story, weaving together Japanese folklore, traditional Chinese puppetry and the refined aesthetics of Liyuan opera. This haunting tale follows a forbidden love between a lantern maker and a spirit; their bond is illuminated through a delicately crafted lantern and mesmerizing shadow play. As flickering lights dance with longing, the story transcends worlds, bringing out the depth of its artistry and restricted emotions in a hauntingly beautiful way.

The Peony Lantern (Photo credit: Chen-Shiau-Jia)

As summer approaches, so does the anticipation for fun-filled adventures. Led by Pi’s homeward-bound boat, the 2025 NTT Summer Fun Time (NTT-FUN) invites families, friends, and audiences of all ages to ride wave after wave of joy and wonder in the world of live performance spectacles.

For more info: https://www.npac-ntt.org/en/program/nttseries/musical