October 5-21
What do William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Kazuo Ishiguro and Zoë Heller have in common? In addition to being celebrated wordsmiths, at least one of their works has been adapted for the silver screen. And Love’s Labour’s Lost, Great Expectations, Remains of the Day and Notes on a Scandal are among the 14 features in the UK Film Festival – Reel Books that will run from October 5 to 21 and includes Becoming Jane, the story of young Jane Austen in love. Screenings will be held at AMC Pacific Place, AMC Festival Walk, Broadway Cinematheque, Palace IFC, the HK Arts Centre’s Agnès b. CINEMA! and the HK Film Archive’s Cinema. Tickets are $70 to $55 depending on the venue. For further details (including about individual screening dates and times), go to www.britishcouncil.org.hk/ukff07

Tuesday, October 9
The Silk Road is the name given to a vast network of historical trade routes that transported knowledge, information and material goods between East and West. But the Silk Road Ensemble is a collective of musicians whose individual careers encompass and often intermingle Western and non-Western classical, folk and popular music. Many of them first came together under the artistic directorship of cellist extraordinaire Yo-Yo Ma in July 2000. This October, the collective embarks on a China tour, The Silk Road Ensemble With Yo-Yo Ma, the local concert of which is set for Tuesday, October 9. The single performance at the HK Cultural Centre’s Concert Hall is scheduled for 7:30pm. Tickets are $1,800 to $300 from URBTIX, 2734 9009.

October 9-13
The MTR, language barriers, culture, networking, nightlife, business and sex are some of the topics covered in HKID, a sophomore effort from Red Room Productions, the theatre company that debuted a few months ago with The Real Suzie. This trilingual (English, Cantonese and Mandarin), multi-cultural and multi-media show also poses salient questions like: What is Hong Kong? Does it have its own identity? Who are its people? What do their voices sound like? What do they have to say? So for thought-provoking action, check out one of the performances at 8pm, October 9-13 at the Fringe Club’s Fringe Theatre. Tickets are priced at $220 from HK Ticketing, 31 288 288.

October 11-14
The name says it all – Puppet City: A Korean Fantasy is the creation of the Hyundai Puppet Theatre founded and headed by master puppeteer Cho Yong-Suk. It will feature traditional Korean music and dances – some of which were performed in the past for members of the Korean royal house – along with modern puppetry. The performances on October 11 and 12 take place at the HK City Hall’s Theatre, the Saturday, October 13 show will be at the Tsuen Wan Town Hall’s Cultural Activities Hall while the Sunday, October 14 performance stages at the Sha Tin Town Hall’s Cultural Activities Hall. Showtime for all performances is 8pm. Tickets for the October 11 and 12 shows are priced at $180 and $140 while those for the October 13 and 14 shows are $160 and $120 from URBTIX, 2734 9009.

October 12 and 13
Self-trained mime artist Philip Fok currently makes his home in Australia. Before moving Down Under though, the founder of the Fringe Movement and Mime Laboratory (aka Mime Lab) was a major figure in the Hong Kong mime world. Now, 21 years after he played a major part in the Fragrant Harbour’s first full-length mime production, Fok is back with what promises to be an innovative new show. Once Upon a Time will explore the source of mime and a new dialogic experience among those on stage. Both the October 12 and 13 performances at the Fringe Club’s Fringe Studio are scheduled for 8:15pm. Tickets are $100 from HK Ticketing, 31 288 288.

October 12-14
The Ballad of Mulan was the first to prompt widespread mention of Hua Mulan, the cross-dressing Chinese heroine who saved her aged father from having to go to war by going in his place. In recent years, however, it was through Disney’s Mulan rather than the famous 6th century Chinese poem that many, especially the young, first came to hear of the legendary female. And that’s the version the Yip’s Children’s Musical Theatre will be staging as a musical from October 12 to 14 at the Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre Theatre. The October 12 and 13 evening performances will begin at 8pm while showtime for the October 13 and 14 matinees is 3pm. Tickets are priced at $195 from URBTIX, 2734 9009.

October 12-16
A few months ago, when bc met with ‘Laughing Girl’ Miriam Yeung to discuss Hooked On You, the romantic drama in which she and Eason Chan starred, the popular Canto-pop singer cum actress also shared some of her thoughts about an upcoming concert series. The All About Love: Miriam Yeung 2007 Concert series is scheduled to run from October 12 to 16 at the HK Coliseum. In this modest megastar’s words: “This will be the fourth time for me to hold a concert in Hong Kong and I think it is so important for me.” So, almost needless to say, we can expect a great show from her! The concerts are set to start at 8:15pm. Tickets are $480, $220 and $120 from URBTIX, 2734 9009.

October 13-24
A mooncake-themed murder mystery is revived this month when the HK Repertory Theatre restages He Jiping’s Secret of Resurrection from October 13 to 24. Distinguished HKAPA alumnus Tse Kwan Ho and Alice Lau are special guest artist’s for this Fredric Mao-helmed costume drama to be performed at the HKAPA’s Lyric Theatre. Evening performances will commence at 7:45pm while the Sunday, October 21 matinee starts at 2:45pm. Tickets are priced at $280 to $120 for the Tuesday to Thursday shows but are $300 to $120 for Friday to Sunday, all from HK Ticketing, 31 288 288.

Sunday, October 14
Charity is the theme and intention behind the HK Parkview Charity Bazaar to benefit Suicide Prevention Services on Sunday, October 14. A fundraiser celebrating its 15th anniversary, the bazaar includes an estimated 60 stalls and expects 4,000 visitors this time around. For games, lucky draws, entertaining performances, food booths, quality second-hand stalls and, most importantly, a chance to do some good, head over to The Podium, HK Parkview, 88 Tai Tam Reservoir Road by 10am when the bazaar opens. The entry fee is $20 but it is hoped you’ll spend quite a bit more for charity while you are there! For further information, call 2382 3102.

Monday, October 15
Thailand may be the Land of Smiles but it also is where the very physical sport known as Thai boxing or Muay Thai originated. Actually, Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand but, these days, it is also international. So the I-1 World Muay Thai Grand Slam 2007 will include top competitors with non-Thai names like Andrei Kulebin and Farnam Mizai along with a contingent of Thai boxers led by Prayoon Sriwiang and local contenders like Wong King Lung and Ho Kwok Keung. HITEC Hall B is where the action will be on Monday, October 15. The contest to decide the I-1 GS World Champion is set to start at 7pm and lasts for three to four hours. Tickets are $1,000 to $350 from HK Ticketing, 31 288 288.