Until August 14
The run of Stan Lai’s iconic play Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land was originally scheduled to end on August 9, but the play has proved so popular additional performances have been scheduled. The playwright is on hand to direct this version of the masterwork that features guest artiste Louisa So and will be presented in Cantonese by the HK Repertory Theatre. Evening performances at the HK Cultural Centre’s Grand Theatre are scheduled to commence at 7:45pm while the August 5 matinee will start at 2:45pm. Tickets are from $300 to $120 from URBTIX, 2734 9009.

Until September 2
“Summer time and the living is easy...” So goes the first line of the classic song by George and Ira Gershwin. Looking at the Summer International Film Festival’s contemporary Summer Pops and gem-laden Summer Classics line-ups, even if the living isn’t easy, the viewing at least promises to be interesting. And if the latter’s Shochiku focus makes the overall programme look rather Japan-centric, note that the Spanish-French-American co-produced Savage Grace (which premiered in the Director’s Fortnight at this year’s Cannes Film Festival), Olivier Assayas’ Boarding Gate (which also premiered at Cannes and stars familiar faces Carl Ng and Kelly Lin) and Romanian director Cristian Nemescu’s posthumous feature debut California Dreamin’ have also been included in the contemporary films’ line-up. Tickets are $55 from URBTIX, 2734 9009. For information about specific screening dates, times and venues, go to www.hkiff.org.hk

Friday, August 3
The Canadian city on the Pacific coast nicknamed Hongcouver will play host to a concert by the HK Chinese Orchestra on August 18. A couple of weeks earlier, Hong Kongers can get a full-blown preview of what will be on offer there at the Festival Vancouver Pre-Tour Concert, a farewell from our only traditional Chinese music orchestra. The concert will feature Sanxian (a three-stringed Chinese lute) performances and narrative singing by ‘National Class One Performer’ Feng Shaoxian. Showtime is at 8pm in the HK Cultural Centre’s Concert Hall. Tickets from $220 to $100 are from URBTIX, 2734 9009.

August 3-5
Have the recent waves of Harry Potter mania left you magically addicted? Consider checking out the 5th HK Magic Festival where you can mingle with, and be entertained by, a whole host of magicians from around the world. The 3-day event will take place at the HKCEC Centre’s Hall 2. Opening hours on August 3 and 5 are 10:30am to 6pm while the doors stay open on August 4 from 10:30am to 8pm. Admission is $20 at the venue itself. For more information, call 2690 4954 or head over to www.eddysmagic.com

August 9-12
Tomorrow is here! Or, at least, the song and all the adventures of Annie will be from August 9 to 12 when the New Territories play host to one more revival of the popular Broadway musical. This time the HK Chorus Society will be accompanied by the New Philharmonia of Hong Kong conducted by Henry Shek. The August 9 to 11 evening shows will start at 7:30pm while the August 11 and 12 matinees will commence at 2:30pm. All five performances will be at the Sha Tin Town Hall. Tickets are $380, $280 and $180 from URBTIX, 2734 9009.

Friday, August 10
Several footballing gods – among them Brazil’s Ronaldinho, Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o and France’s Thierry Henry – are due to show off their silky skills and power play at the Mission Hills Cup match between FC Barcelona and a local Mission Hills Invitation Select XI on August 10. Considering the talented Catalan team’s reputation for attack, goals galore are expected. So even footie fans who’d rather see Henry in an Arsenal jersey than Barcelona’s red and blue might want to be among the expected 40,000 crowd when the match kicks off at 8pm at Hong Kong Stadium. Tickets are from $1,200 to $180, restricted to four per person and can only be bought directly from the Hong Kong Stadium.

August 10 and 11
Mime, movement, gesture, dance and sign language are combined in a visually rich and powerful theatre piece which premiered in Vienna in 2005 and has now found its way to the Fragrant Harbour’s Sheung Wan Civic Centre’s Theatre. Presented by the Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong, Mosaic is an exploration of societal pressures to conform performed by members of Quest, an American ensemble of deaf and hearing artistes. The two evening shows are scheduled to start at 7:30pm while the matinee on August 11 will commence at 3pm. Tickets are $120 (and half price for selected individuals) from URBTIX, 2734 9009.

On the Bridge of Avignon is the English title of a popular French children’s song about folk dancing on the French town’s famous medieval bridge. It is also the name of a new production by local contemporary jazz dance trio Le Groupe Dance dik gam deu. Inspired by its members’ experiences during a recent trip to Europe, the dance will be performed on the evenings of August 10 and 11 at the Fringe Club’s Fringe Theatre. Showtime for both performances is at 8pm and tickets are $99 from HK Ticketing, 31 288 288.

Aug 10-12
Othello is one of Shakespeare’s more popular and, also, most frequently adapted plays. As early as 1816, Rossini composed an operatic adaptation and in both the latter part of the 20th and early years of the 21st centuries, the play was adapted for films. Now this month, the HK 3 Arts Musical Institute (3AMI) will present Othello – The Rock Show! In Cantonese, this International Arts Carnival piece’s contemporary music industry setting means that the noble Othello, Desdemona and villainous Iago will be sharing the stage with groupies, journalists and other key players in a rock ’n’ roll musical. Intrigued? If so, get thee to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre’s Studio Theatre where evening performances are set to commence at 7:30pm on August 10 and 11 and afternoon shows kick off at 3pm on August 11 and 12. Tickets are $100 from URBTIX, 2734 9009.

The Hong Kong leg of the four-week-long Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) World Grand Prix will involve six competitive matches between a quartet of world-class women’s volleyball teams over three days of intense play. 2004 Olympic Gold medallists China are sure to be the crowd favourites but top-five ranked Italy along with top-20 representatives Poland and the Dominican Republic are primed to supply some thrills and triumphs of their own. The Hong Kong Coliseum is the place to catch the volleyball action. Tickets for admission are $400 to $50 on August 10 and 11, and $480 to $60 on August 12 from URBTIX, 2734 9009. For game times and info, go to www.fivb.org.