Until October 18
Originally a playful project that slowly became a sophisticated collection of work, The Chairman and I is a new exhibition documenting photographer André Eichman’s journey across China accompanied by a statue of Chairman Mao. The American artist spent six years interviewing people from all walks of life and photographing them with the statue in their hands – from a family friend who was the bodyguard of Zhou Enlai’s wife during the Long March to a farmer Eichman met on the road. The result is a fascinating insight into a rapidly evolving China and the changing perspectives among generations about the legacy of Chairman Mao. The exhibition will be on at The Foreign Correspondents’ Club until October 18.

October 2-11
In his new solo show, I Am Not Happy, Joey Leung, Queer Show’s award-winning actor, teams up with long-term partner, writer/director of W Theatre, Alvin Wong, to play Kit, a man increasingly bored with his well-paid job, stable partner and group of decent friends. Initially at a loss about what to do about it, he finally decides to kill off his identity and create a new one with a certificate from a famous college, a new and exciting job and a fresh lover. For a while, life seems more interesting but then the old ennui returns... I Am Not Happy, a show of tears and laughter, runs from October 2-6, 6-11 at 8pm and October 3 and 4, 10 and 11 at 3pm in the HK Arts Centre Shouson Theatre. Tickets are $320 and $240 from HK Ticketing, 31 288 288.

Sunday, October 4
Call it ultra-efficiency but Cantopop queen Joey Yung will be staging her two-date concert – Joey Yung’s Perfect 10 Concert – in a single day. And instead of the usual HK Coliseum, she will be performing at the HK Cultural Centre Grand Theatre. Having recently released the new Mandarin album Very Busy, the best-selling female singer seems to be looking for new challenges in her live performance – see it to believe it on October 4 at either 3pm or 8pm – or even both. Tickets are $580 and $380 from URBTIX, 2734 9009.

October 5-November 11
No, Tian An Men is not the controversial 1995 film The Gate of Heavenly Peace but a propaganda movie that will be part of this year’s Chinese Film Panorama. The 2009 Panorama programme also includes works from not-so-big-name directors – other than Ning Hao’s Crazy Racer (which screened in the HKIFF), highlights will include the urban comedy Set Off starring popular comedian Fan Wei, who is dragged by a young girl into a life-threatening blackmailing scandal, and young director Zhang Jiarui’s Red River, starring Zhang Jingchu and HK’s newly crowned Best Actor Nick Cheung. Based in Yunnan, the film depicts the tragic love story between homeless Vietnamese girl A-Tao and a hawker who looks like her dead father. The Chinese Film Panorama 2009 runs from October 5-Novemebr 11 and tickets are $45 from URBTIX, 2734 9009. For a full schedule, check out HYPERLINK "http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/fp" www.lcsd.gov.hk/fp.

Wednesday, October 7
For some serious yet easily approached music look no further than Hong Kong Pure Strings’ Surprise! concert. Founder, artistic director and first violinist, Leung Kin-fung, will be leading the group in a mixed programme of classical music and pieces we are all familiar with: The two violins, viola, cello, double-bass and harp will perform the Happy Birthday Variations and Joey Jung’s hot song My Pride as well as the Tatar folk song Under the Silver Moonlight, Piazzolla’s Tango Medley and Rimsky-Kosakov’s Flight of the Bumblebee among others. The concert will be staged on October 9 at 8pm in the Sha Tin Town Hall Auditorium, tickets are $200, $150, $100 from URBTIX, 2734 9009.

Friday, October 9
The greatest pop legend may have shuffled off his mortal coil as it were but his legacy is enduringly with us – in no little way through a good impersonator or two. Tony McKay has been following Michael Jackson’s career since he was five, he was titled ‘Little MJ’ at 10 and started professionally impersonating the king of pop by 18 – in total McKay has spend over 20 years playing Michael Jackson. Which prompts us to wonder how he kept up with his hero’s facial changes over that time. For those who want to see MJ (or something close to it) live on stage again, check out Tony McKay’s The Ultimate Michael Jackson Tribute Concert on October 9 at 8pm in the HKCEC Hall 5BC. Tickets are $480, $380, $280 from HK Ticketing, 31 288 288.

October 9 and 10
If you liked what you saw at the Beijing Olympics opening, Splendours of the Tang Dynasty should be just up your alley. Presented by the Shaanxi Provincial Song and Dance Theatre, the epic dance combines extravagant costumes with traditional Chinese music and dance as over 120 performers revive the glorious days of the Tang dynasty, when China dominated Asia, both culturally and economically. Splendours of the Tang Dynasty serves as the opening attraction of the Silk Road Arts Festival – the 10 million yuan production will be staged at the HK Cultural Centre Grand Theatre on October 9 and 10 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $280, $240, $180 and $120 from URBTIX, 2734 9009, although we understand the performances are now sold out.

October 9-11
One of the Buddhist Jataka tales depicted in the Dunhuang cave paintings, A Deer of Nine Colours tells the story of a multi-coloured deer that saves a man from drowning. Although the man promises not to tell anyone about the deer’s whereabouts, motivated by greed, he leads the king to the deer, resulting in its capture. However, when the king learns of the man’s treachery, he cannot but release his prize. Unlock Dancing Plaza, winner of the Hong Kong Dance Award 2009, joins with puppetry group Ming Ri Institute for Arts Education to produce the tale as a modern multi-media production with contemporary dance and shadow play. Director/choreographer Ong Young-lock interweaves dancers with silhouettes – a metaphor for the real and the surreal – into a mind-dazzling performance as part of the Silk Roads Arts Festival. A Deer of Nine Colours will be staged at the Tsuen Wan Town Hall Exhibition Gallery on October 9 and 10 at 7:30pm and October 11 at 2:30pm and 5pm. Tickets are $160 from URBTIX, 2734 9009.

October 9-11
Drama Gallery and 2 On Stage present a new Cantonese musical, Four Thousand Gold, this fortnight. It has been written by award-winning actor Yu Hon Ting, most recognized by local audiences for his dark humour, with music composed by Frankie Ho. The story of the Gold family starts with the disappearance of a winning lottery ticket – and life for the four Gold siblings descends into chaos. Eldest sister Guage becomes obsessed with religion, Dolly lives an outwardly happy but inwardly depressed life, Cay is a typical “trainman” who does nothing but eat and sleep while Coy, the youngest, is a party animal with no ambitions in life. Their mother, freshly out of prison, returns after 20 years and turns their already messy lives upside down. Starring an award-winning ensemble cast of Gladys Liu, Bonnie Chan, Pichead Amornsomboon and Tony Wong, Four Thousand Gold will be staged at the Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre Theatre from October 9-11 at 8pm and October 10 and 11 at 3pm. Tickets are $200 and $160 from URBTIX, 2734 9009.

October 9-12
Is it just coincidence that Cantopop rebel Denise Ho’s styling for her Hocc 2009 Supergoo Concert looks so much like that of La Roux’s Eleanor Jackson? Or is it just that both borrow so heavily from’80s pop culture? – It is well known that Ho is a protégé of Cantopop legend Anita Mui. The theme to her coming concert (and album) is “superheroes” and it carries the simple message that you’re a superhero wherever you are as long as you make the world a better place with even your slightest action. It may be clichéic, but it’s true – and the pop rebel is building her album and concert around it. With costumes designed by Cheung Suk Ping, the concert is guaranteed to be a spectacular funfest for all superheroes – catch Denise Ho from October 9-12 at the HK Coliseum at 8pm. Tickets are – if available – $480, $280 and $150 from URBTIX, 2734 9909.

Looking Ahead

October 16-18
Tango-A-Tierra
Tel: 2734 9009

October 16-18, 24 and 25
Love Letters
Tel: 2734 9009

October 19
Orchester der KlangVerwaltung & Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern
Tel: 2734 9009

October 20 and 21
Divas in Concert
Tel: 2734 9009

October 23
Sydney Symphony
Tel: 2734 9009

I am Back – Dave Wong in Concert
Tel: 2734 9009

October 23-25
Victor Ma’s Dance Exhibition II
Tel: 2734 9009

October 30-November 1
The Passage Beyond
Tel: 2734 9009

October 31
Wild Day Out Grand Show
Tel: 31 288 288

October 31 and November 1
Man In The Fridge – Sigmund Freud
Tel: 2734 9009

November 3
Guitar Recital by John Williams
Tel: 2734 9009

November 6 and 7
Happy Shaolin Kung Fu Musical
Tel: 2734 9009

November 7 and 8
Clockenflap 02
Tel: 2544 5664