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| editor's diary |
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Arts’ Calling
Act now or never – tickets for the Hong Kong Arts Festival are selling fast. Shows that are almost sold out include Tim Robbins’ adaptation of George Orwell’s visionary 1984. This time The Actors’ Gang from the US is bringing big brother and O’Brien to brainwash the rebel Winston Smith on stage. Also popular is The Propeller’s The Taming of the Shrew + Twelfth Night, a dynamic and hilarious production with an all-male cast. Gorgeous actors playing Kate the shrew and Viola the cross dresser – doesn’t that sound fun to you? For musical adventures, jazz fans can swing with the SFJAZZ Collective playing Thelonious Monk, while classical lovers cannot lose with conductor Yuri Simonov and the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra playing the great Russian composers.
From the local scene, 16 of Hong Kong’s best dancers celebrate the 35th anniversary of the festival with My Life as a Dancer, an exploration of the evolution of love. And in another kind of amorous tale, puppeteer and illustrator Hoi Chiu collaborates with Canadian artist Maggie Blue O’ Hara for YuYu MiMi – A Love Story, a multi-media kind of puppet theatre not seen very often in Hong Kong. On and On Theatre Workshop is staging Tian Gong Kai Wu – A Practical Guide to Imaginary Inventions, an adaptation of Dung Kai-cheung’s award-winning novel: expect a night of surreal yet poetic glances through Hong Kong’s history. Also look out for composer Chan Fai-yeung’s multi-concert 12 Faces of Woman, which features video projections directed by a group of local artists including director Pang Ho-cheung, photographer Wing Shya and Twins’ Charlene Choi.
Beg or borrow the money, but secure a seat in these shows. You won’t regret it. Tickets are available from URBTIX or click www.hk.artsfestival.org for details. |
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Saturday Feb 3
If you don’t know Tchaikovsky from Tcherepnin, now is a good time to find out. The Hong Kong Sinfonietta is inviting us to Know Your Ballet Music, a concert of some of the world’s best-loved ballet music – like Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. Members of the Hong Kong Ballet and its artistic director, John Meehan, will give ballet demonstrations and share their music and dance experience. The two shows are at 3pm and 7:30pm at Kwai Tsing Theatre Auditorium. Tickets from $90-$160 are available from URBTIX, 2734 9009. |
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Monday Feb 5
This is the last call to catch Sir Cliff Richard on stage. The perennial British star who has sold over 250 million records, many topping the English and American charts, will be singing at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre at 8pm. Prepare for some cheesy love songs and a sing-along of Oooooocean Deep. Tickets from $390-$1,390 are available from www.hkticketing.com, 31 288 288. |
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February 5-11
The weather is getting cold and what’s better for that than some hot Salsa? The Hong Kong Salsa Festival 2007 will be held from February 5-11 and everything you need to know about Salsa will be there: live band performances, African shows, an Asian Salsa Open competition, street parties and workshops. More than 40 Salsa artists will fly to Hong Kong especially for the event. Click www.hksalsafestival.com for a full schedule. |
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February 9-14
Tired of seeing the same old face when you look in the mirror every day? Take a peek at The Second Skin – Photography and Makeup Design Show at Prestige Tower (12/F, Prestige Tower, 23-25 Nathan Rd, TST). The exhibition features works by photographer Ike and body make-up artist Karen Yiu and two sessions of body make-up demonstrations will be held on February 10 and 13 at 7pm. Call 6330 0196 for details. |
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Saturday Feb 10
So you have seen the massive banner poster and watched his music video on the big LCD television in Causeway Bay. Now put your hands together for this hip-hop sensation and protégé of 50 Cent – Lloyd Banks. And as you step into the concert hall, hone up on the lyrics of his hits including Cake and Hands Up. The 25-year-old will be rapping at 8:30pm tonight at the Asia World Expo-Arena. Tickets from $300-$880 can be bought through www.hkticketing.com, 31 288 288. |
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February 14-16
When RMB16 million has been spent on a musical, you can expect something really staggering. Just so with Jinsha the musical inspired by the discovery of the mysterious Jinsha site in western Sichuan in 2001. The production follows a 3,000-year-old love story through sacrifices, battles and sumptuous banquets. Chief director and composer San Bao, whose previous works include scores for Zhang Yimou’s The Road Home and Not One Less, has written 22 songs for the extravaganza which starts at 8pm in the Kwai Tsing Theatre Auditorium. Tickets from $120-$350 are obtainable from URBTIX, 2734 9009. |
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To February 25
Valentine’s Day may be a day of romance, but it’s also a day to remember the many women and girls around the world who suffer daily physical and sexual violence. Eve Ensler, the playwright of The Vagina Monologues, started the V-Day Campaign, which is run internationally every year in various countries, to increase awareness and raise funds for anti-violence organizations. This year in HK, all money raised will go to Christian Action’s Refugee Women Emergency Fund and, as usual, the campaign is headlined with a charity performance of Ensler’s stage piece The Vagina Monologues. Other events taking place are V-Day art jams, an art exhibition, a belly dance party and a forum at HKU addressing the issues of physical and sexual violence. It all kicks off with the art jams in Central on February 3 and 11. Performances of the play are at Le Rideau on the 23 and 24. Check out www.phoenixation.com/vday/index.html for details of all campaign events. Or email vdayhk@phoenixation.com.
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Hello Piggy!
We’re moving into the year of the grunter and it’s time for celebration. The flower market at the Victoria Park and Fa Hui Park, Mong Kok will be held from February 12-17. To avoid the crowd and suffocation, we recommend you to visit from 6pm-9pm. But yes, we know – we go to the flower market for the crowd, not for the flowers. The Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade will be held on February 18 starting from 8pm, free viewing along the parade route. Fireworks follow on February 19 at 8pm – be early to settle on a good viewing spot! And for football fanatics, the Hong Kong League XI will play against Olympic teams from Australia, China and Jamaica on February 18 and 21. For tickets and details, visit www.hkfa.com. |
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