Category: performing arts

Death Cab for Cutie @ MacPherson Stadium – 1 March, 2016

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The line started early and stretched along three sides of Mong Kok’s MacPherson playground as fans eagerly queued for a spot close to the stage for the sold out Death for Cutie concert. The Seattle band entertained fans with a 90 minute set and 15 minute encore on their first visit to Hong Kong; departing to rapturous applause with a promise to return soon.
Click on any image to see the full gallery of photos.

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India by the Bay Opening Reception @ India House – 24 February, 2016

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India by the Bay 2016 opening reception hosted by the Indian Consul General Prashant Agrawal at India House. This year’s festival curated by Sanjoy Roy includes Sharmila Tagore, Shobha De and Rajasthan Josh… for a full schedule of events see here
Click on any photo to see the full gallery of images

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/India-by-the-Bay-Opening/i-9qLDzhv

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India by the Bay

india-by-the-bay-2016

India by the Bay returns from the 25 February – 1 March with a range of events that look to bring India’s cultural dynamism to Hong Kong. There’s a mix of classical and contemporary including music, theatre, dance, food, film and literature as the festival reflects India’s artistic depth and diversity. According to the organisers the India by the Bay aims to celebrate the common cultural strands shared by Hong Kong and India and their multi-ethnic populace.

India by the Bay – 24 February to 1 March 2016

24 February – Festival Opening

7:15pm, 25 February – Film – Sharmila Tagore at Asia Society Hong Kong Center
Indian film actress Sharmila Tagore in conversation with Festival Director Sanjoy Roy.

7:15pm, 26 February – Literature – Shobha De at Asia Society Hong Kong Center
Best- selling author of 18 books and widely-read columnist Shobhaa De in conversation with Sanjoy Roy.

6:45pm, 27 February – Music – Rajasthan Josh at Asia Society Hong Kong Center
World music band which combine the folk traditions of the North Western region of India with vocal styles ranging from mystic Sufi traditions, bhajans to the popular folk songs of Rajasthan.

12:30pm, 27 February – Lunch – Karen Anand at Ovolo Southside Hotel

6:45pm, 28 February – Dance – Nityagram at Asia Society Hong Kong Center
The Nrityagram Dance Ensemble are one of the foremost dance companies in India. Although steeped in and dedicated to ancient techniques, the Nrityagram dancers also look to carry Indian dance into the twenty-first century.

7:15pm, 29 February – Theatre – C Sharp C Blunt at Asia Society Hong Kong Center
C Sharp C Blunt is based on the concept of the loop. An electronic musician, live on stage creates and layers loops from live sound. The loop in its nature reflects the training of the singer through endless repetition and also the process of cultural and social programming. This cultural programming also defines the specific way girls and women are supposed to behave.
The play looks at traditional gender roles as engrained by culture versus the woman as the globalised consumer living in a new market that caters to her wants and needs. We look at the performer as a site of battle between purity and consumption, between servitude and ego, between being-looked-at-ness and self-determination.

7pm, 1 March – Buddhist Day – Shantum Seth at Ovolo Southside Hotel

Tickets for all events are available at www.indiabythebay.com

Kennedy

stylus - Kennedy - 2016

Written by the award-winning Spanish poet José Manuel Sevilla who penned the Hong Kong production of The Bridge in 2011, Kennedy is a noirish tale of loss and redemption set in late 20th Century Barcelona. Recently released from prison, Kennedy seeks his sister, Beatriz. Both escape from the reality of their lives into philosophical flights of fancy that keep the shadows at bay.

This Stylus Productions staging of Kennedy is the world premiere of Sevilla’s latest work.

José Manuel Sevilla is a Barcelona born poet living in Hong Kong who has published several volumes of poetry including From the Limits of Paradise (1991), Contiguous Traject (1993), Alicia in Ikea’s Catalogue (2004) and Ashes of Auschwitz and Eighteen Dogs (2009). He founded ‘Poets against AIDS’ in Spain and, while living in Mexico, Sevilla started the photograph collection Street Language, which was exhibited at the Fringe Club in 2004.

Stylus Productions was founded in 2006 by Adam Harris; their previous shows include The Rocky Horror Show (2006 & 2010), the world premiere in English of The Bridge (2011, also by the award-winning Spanish poet José Manuel Sevilla), Macbeth (2014), Chimes of Freedom (2009) and last year’s Medea.

WARNING: This show includes adult language and themes.

Kennedy
Date: 8pm, 17-19 March, 2016
Venue: HK Arts Centre, McAulay Studio
Tickets: $200/$180 from Urbtix

Angel Leung’s House of Music

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Tian-Di-Hui-Rock-Angel-Band/i-QLkmKSP

Cantopop, EDM and asian and western pop dominate the main stages locally, but there lots of local bands making music in other genres and looking for venues to play at. That is why music producer Angel Leung set up her own venue in 2014; to as she puts it “encourage and provide a location for the under-recognised rock and punk bands to perform and to spark a music revolution and modernize Hong Kong’s ‘outdated’ music.” Located in Fo Tan, Rock Angel Band House recently celebrated it’s second anniversary and bc magazine spoke to it’s owner Angel Leung about the past and the future.

Who is Angel Leung?
“My full name is Angel Leung On Kay, I’m an experienced bi-lingual broadcaster who has been a DJ/ program producer at RTHK, Commercial Radio and at Metro Radio where I was channel director for FM select.” Angel has also been a columnist for Ming Pao Weekly, Oriental Weekly, Sun and last year she hosted and produced 13 episodes of Rock Angel TV for the now defunct ATV.

A former District Councilor, Angel is also a social issues commentator, who frequently speaks out about the Umbrella Movement and of changes she hopes music will make in Hong Kong.

In 2009 she founded ALCTV (www.alc-tv.com). While the Rock Angel Power Band Festival in 2013 was the seed that germinated into the Rock Angel Band House. In 2015 she launched the Loving Hearts, Loving Song concert series.

Running a live music venue in Hong Kong is hard, what made you want to open Rock Angel Band House?
“With live music venues becoming more selective, talented young artists and musicians are often overlooked. By opening Rock Angel Band House I have the freedom to showcase local and international musicians that I like. Finding suitable and appropriate concert venues for bands wasn’t easy and many didn’t have good equipment. With my own band house I can decide who, and what concerts to hold. I can ensure the standard of the venue. It is important to have the right sound equipment and setup as it shows respect toward the artists who are performing”.

What are your three favourite concerts from the first two years of Rock Angel Band House?
Tian Di Hui, a top progressive band from Singapore (January, 2016).

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Jazz guitar legend Eugene Pao who gave a performance that was world class back in December 2015.

https://youtu.be/nybgAjU25u8

Alan Tse & the Ocean Band, from Macau, featuring Joey Tang from Tai Chi as a special guest.

https://youtu.be/B89xur7GsUw

How has your focus and direction for Rock Angel Band House changed over the last two years?
“When I started out, I wanted to provide opportunities and space for local indie bands to showcase their talent. Two years on that’s still true but I also want to have more international artists perform in a more intimate venue where the audience can get up close and feel like a bigger part of the event.”

What do you think are the strengths and weakness of the local music scene?
“As a band sound promoter I think it is exceptionally difficult for musicians to receive local exposure and play before live audiences. As the music industry becomes more and more westernised, it is even arguable that local bands are being forgotten about. The lack of support for rock music is sad. Live music venues that support original music are rare, and in the ones that are open, rent is extremely expensive” comments Angel. “This means that smaller, less known bands such as youth groups are often unable to secure a location to practice. There is talent however not a lot of people are willing to give these bands a chance to shine. This dismissive mindset of audiences can be linked to the major media focus on commercial singers leaving the broader local music industry/ community unhealthy”.

What next, what plans do you have for the next twelve months?
“Of course plans are being made and I hope to have some great international artists perform at Rock Angel Band House in 2016. But until dates are confirmed, and contracts are signed this information must remain private. I hope people will be surprised and happy when the concerts announcements are made.”

Do you have any more gigs in the “Loving Hearts, Loving Songs” series scheduled?
“Yes, the Loving hearts, Loving Songs series next concert will see the talented young group called FANTAZ headlining the show scheduled for the 19 March.

Which singer or band would you most like personally to see perform in Rock Angel Band House?
“I can’t answer this one” replies Angel with a light laugh, “there maybe surprises….”

Rock Angel Band House
6/F; 607-608, Fonda industrial Building, 37-39 Au Pui Wan Street, Fo Tan, New Territories. Tel: 2388 9225 Facebook: www.facebook.com/rockangelbandhouse

Photo: Ludmila Puchulu

Into the Woods

Into-the-Woods-poster

Stephen Sondheim’s epic musical Into the Woods brings together many of the Grimm brothers’ best known fairytales including Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, and Little Red Riding Hood. Framed by a moving story about a childless couple who long to have a family of their own. With a challenging and captivating score, dark comedy and physical theatre, Face Productions brings an exciting new edge to this classic Broadway and West End musical.

When the baker and his wife are cursed to be childless by the witch from next door, the only way to break her spell is to venture into the woods to find four mysterious ingredients. With a cow as white as milk, a cape as red as blood, hair as yellow as corn, and a slipper as pure as gold, they must create a potion to appease the Witch and restore her former beauty. On their way, they cross paths with familiar characters: each with a wish of their own. Who will make it out of the woods alive? And will we find truth in the old adage of happily ever after?

Into the Woods opened on Broadway in November 1987 to massive critical acclaim winning several Tony Awards, including Best Score, Best Book, and Best Actress in a Musical. While Disney’s 2014 film adaptation, directed by Rob Marshall and featuring an all-star cast including Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Anna Kendrick, earned US$212 million worldwide, as well as three Academy Award nominations and three Golden Globe nominations.

Into-the-Woods

Face Productions – whose recent productions include Hairspray (2013), Footloose (2014), and Legally Blonde (2015) – revival has Conor O’Grady at the Director’s helm, with Roy Rolloda and Jessica Peralta as the Baker and Baker’s Wife respectively, Candice Caalsen as the Witch, and Sophie Connell as Little Red Riding Hood. Choreographed by Claire Johnson, with Enrico Narvaez as Musical Director, the show features many professional and veteran performers, a live band, and some of the highest calibre community theatre performers in Hong Kong.

Cast
Baker: Roy Rolloda
Baker’s Wife: Jessica Peralta
Witch: Candice Caalsen
Little Red Riding Hood: Sophie Connell

Director: Conor O’Grady
Choreographer: Claire Johnson
Musical Director: Enrico Narvaez

Into the Woods
Date: 4-7 February, 2016
Venue: HK City Hall, Theatre
Tickets: $395 from Urbtix
More info:
4-6 February – 8pm
7 February – 7:30pm

Into the Woods Junior
Face Academy: $275
6–7 February – 10.30am and 2.30pm

Tian Di Hui @ 2 Anniversary Rock Angel Band House – 23 January, 2016

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Tian-Di-Hui-Rock-Angel-Band/i-NPrNhMS

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Rock Angel Band House celebrated it’s 2nd Anniversary with a concert by Singaporean band Tian Di Hui. Ludmila Puchulú was there to capture all the action
Click on any photo to access the full gallery

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Tian-Di-Hui-Rock-Angel-Band/i-3Sk4WPJ

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Tian-Di-Hui-Rock-Angel-Band/i-5NQFPt3

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Tian-Di-Hui-Rock-Angel-Band/i-FtdsD2k

Into the Woods

Into-the-Woods-poster

Stephen Sondheim’s epic musical Into the Woods brings together many of the Grimm brothers’ best known fairytales including Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, and Little Red Riding Hood. Framed by a moving story about a childless couple who long to have a family of their own. With a challenging and captivating score, dark comedy and physical theatre, Face Productions brings an exciting new edge to this classic Broadway and West End musical.

When the baker and his wife are cursed to be childless by the witch from next door, the only way to break her spell is to venture into the woods to find four mysterious ingredients. With a cow as white as milk, a cape as red as blood, hair as yellow as corn, and a slipper as pure as gold, they must create a potion to appease the Witch and restore her former beauty. On their way, they cross paths with familiar characters: each with a wish of their own. Who will make it out of the woods alive? And will we find truth in the old adage of happily ever after?

Into the Woods opened on Broadway in November 1987 to massive critical acclaim winning several Tony Awards, including Best Score, Best Book, and Best Actress in a Musical. While Disney’s 2014 film adaptation, directed by Rob Marshall and featuring an all-star cast including Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Anna Kendrick, earned US$212 million worldwide, as well as three Academy Award nominations and three Golden Globe nominations.

Into-the-Woods

Face Productions – whose recent productions include Hairspray (2013), Footloose (2014), and Legally Blonde (2015) – revival has Conor O’Grady at the Director’s helm, with Roy Rolloda and Jessica Peralta as the Baker and Baker’s Wife respectively, Candice Caalsen as the Witch, and Sophie Connell as Little Red Riding Hood. Choreographed by Claire Johnson, with Enrico Narvaez as Musical Director, the show features many professional and veteran performers, a live band, and some of the highest calibre community theatre performers in Hong Kong.

Cast
Baker: Roy Rolloda
Baker’s Wife: Jessica Peralta
Witch: Candice Caalsen
Little Red Riding Hood: Sophie Connell

Director: Conor O’Grady
Choreographer: Claire Johnson
Musical Director: Enrico Narvaez

Into the Woods
Date: 4-7 February, 2016
Venue: HK City Hall, Theatre
Tickets: $395 from Urbtix
More info:
4-6 February – 8pm
7 February – 7:30pm

Into the Woods Junior
Face Academy: $275
6–7 February – 10.30am and 2.30pm