Past Events
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Our hands-on workshops are inspired by different elements of Chinese traditional theatre and regional cultural heritage, and offer interactive experiences for children, families and art lovers of all ages and abilities
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Shirley Tse: Stakeholders, Hong Kong in Venice
11.05.2019 to 19.11.2019, Venice, Italy
The Venice exhibition is a culmination of Tse’s career-long interest in plasticity and in the various meanings and possible interpretations of materials and things
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Five Artists: Sites Encountered
07.06.2019 to 20.10.2019, M+ Pavilion, Art Park
Five Artists: Sites Encountered brings together an international group of artists whose varied approaches offer ways to rethink ideas of site and place
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Chinese Fan Painting and Movement Workshop
16.06.2019, Atrium, Xiqu Centre
In this free family workshop, Cantonese opera artist Xie Xiaoyu, and facilitator Vivian Ng and Ava Yau, show you how to decorate a flat fan with an image of a Chinese opera character and demonstrate how fans are used by performers in dan (female) roles
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Wearable Xiqu-inspired Jewellery Workshop – Imitation Kingfisher Feather Brooch
15.06.2019, Studio, Xiqu Centre
Join a hands-on workshop and learn how to process and use ribbon to imitate the effect of kingfisher feathers, and design and create your own individual brooch
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From a True Story – Christian Rizzo
14.06.2019 to 15.06.2019, The Box, Freespace
Incorporating eight male dancers and two live drummers, French choreographer Christian Rizzo’s acclaimed dance work From a True Story blends folkloric gesture and contemporary movement with repetitive tribal rhythms, creating a work that strikes at the core of human experience. Hong Kong debut
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07.06.2019 to 12.06.2019, The Room, Freespace
French choreographer Christian Rizzo joins us to lead a five-day professional workshop for dancers and visual artists on choreographic compositions and the relationship between movement, performance and space. The collaboration opens with a public discussion on his work and the importance of emptiness as a space for imagination
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The Face Painting and Costumes of Cantonese Opera
04.06.2019, Seminar Hall & Studio, Xiqu Centre
This talk looks at the face painting and dressing processes used in contemporary Cantonese opera, and at the ways in which costumes contribute to the portrayal of different characters
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ExecLab: Executive Short Courses 2019 – University of the Arts London
31.05.2019 to 02.06.2019, Studio, Xiqu Centre
Presented in collaboration with the University of the Arts London Short Courses, this three-day professional course offers insight into the skills required for managing arts and cultural events and developing sustainable creative business
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The Hidden Pulse at Vivid LIVE 2019
29.05.2019 to 02.06.2019, Sydney Opera House, Australia
From 29 May to 2 June, M+ and the Sydney Opera House co-present The Hidden Pulse as part of Vivid LIVE. This is a five-day programme of artists’ videos and films that explores the capacity of music and performance
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Shanghai Pingtan Troupe "Gao Bowen performs Blossoms"
23.05.2019 to 02.06.2019, Tea House Theatre, Xiqu Centre
This four-part adaptation of an award-winning novel brings to life an intricate tale and showcases the unique charm of the narrative Pingtan tradition. Each part is performed on consecutive evenings, with two complete four-night runs over the programme period
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01.06.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre
In this talk, Professor Yu Siu-wah examines the concepts and characteristics of Cantonese opera music, offers insight into basic structures and arrangements, and discusses some of the transformations that have taken place over the centuries
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29.05.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre
In this illustrated talk, renowned local Ming furniture expert Dr Yip Shing-yiu offers insight into the artistry, style and development of some of the finest Chinese furniture design
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Reading Cantonese Music Notation
28.05.2019, Seminar Hall & Studio, Xiqu Centre
In this talk, members of the arts group The Gong Strikes One demonstrate how to read traditional gongche music sheets and perform live on the zheng (Chinese zither) and dongxiao (bamboo flute)
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25.05.2019, Seminar Hall & Studio, Xiqu Centre
In this talk, Dr Chan Chun-miu offers audiences insight into the distinctive sounds and melodies of the Kunqu art form, exploring the relationship between the use of dialects and the evolution of the art form, and the way that music and language is used to highlight different roles and characters
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Indie Music – An International Perspective
21.05.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre
Using examples from the US and Britain, Stella Lau, former Programme Director in Performing Arts at HKU SPACE, explores the musical, social and economic relationships that underpin independent music labels, and whether independent artists who become popular in the mainstream can still be labelled “indie”
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Wearable Xiqu-inspired Jewellery Workshop – Hairpin with Imitation Kingfisher Feather
19.05.2019, Atrium, Xiqu Centre
In this fun, free workshop, local artists Kong Hoi-kan and Ng Sze-yu demonstrate how to use ribbons to imitate the effect of kingfisher feathers and help you discover fun facts about the symbolic role of garments and head pieces in xiqu performances
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18.05.2019, Studio, Xiqu Centre
Make your own life-size paper model and learn fun facts about xiqu headdresses in a fun, hands-on workshop
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07.05.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre
Cantonese opera plays an important role in the lives of people in Hong Kong. This talk explores its transition from the use of Mandarin to the Cantonese vernacular, demonstrating vocal styles and techniques and offering a deeper understanding of the aesthetic features of the art form
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Four Dreams in the Camellia Hall by the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe: The Peony Pavilion
05.05.2019, Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre
After dreaming of an encounter with a handsome stranger, the lovesick young Du Liniang is so bewitched that she dies of longing. Later, when the scholar Liu Mengmei discovers a portrait of Liniang, he is filled with a sense of romantic déjà vu…
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04.05.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre
This talk looks at Cantonese opera in the social context of modern Hong Kong, and examines how elements of western-modern music, literature and film culture have been adapted for use in the traditional performing art form
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04.05.2019, Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre
In a depressed and drunken slumber, recently demoted Tang dynasty general Chun Yufen dreams he visits a strange land where he is presented with riches and power. When his fortune is squandered through greed and corruption, he wakes full of remorse
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Four Dreams in the Camellia Hall by the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe: A Pair of Purple Hairpins
03.05.2019, Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre
After pledging his love to Xiaoyu, the beautiful daughter of Prince Huo, the handsome young Li Yi suddenly disappears. Broken hearted, Xiaoyu assumes she has been deserted, until the arrival of a knight in yellow robes reveals the truth…
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Four Dreams in the Camellia Hall by the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe: The Tale of Handan
02.05.2019, Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre
At a small inn in the city of Handan, a scholar named Lu encounters a Taoist immortal who lends him a magical porcelain pillow. The same night, Lu has a vivid dream that changes the course of his life
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30.04.2019, Seminar Hall & Studio, Xiqu Centre
In this talk, Chinese opera scholar Chan Chun-miu looks at some of the literary texts used in Kunqu, and shares insight into Kunqu influence on xiqu songs and performance
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Between Cantonese Opera and Film: Connie Chan and Female Cross-dressing
27.04.2019, Seminar Hall & Studio, Xiqu Centre
Since the post-war years, the convention of nüwenwusheng – female performers playing civil and military male roles – in Cantonese opera has been a popular practice in Hong Kong. In this talk, Prof Li Siu-leung looks at the recent history of female cross-dressing in Hong Kong Cantonese opera and film, with special reference to Connie Chan Po-chu
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Chinese Culture Talk Series II
27.02.2019 to 24.04.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre
In this series of three talks, local experts share their understanding of poetry, calligraphy and the ancient Chinese divination text the I Ching, and explore the relevance of traditional literary arts in a contemporary society
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Noguchi for Danh Vo: Counterpoint
16.11.2018 to 22.04.2019, M+ Pavilion, West Kowloon
The exhibition presents art and design works by the celebrated modern sculptor Isamu Noguchi in dialogue with newly created work by Danh Vo, one of the most critically acclaimed conceptual artists active today
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21.04.2019, Atrium, Xiqu Centre
This Easter, join us at the Xiqu Centre Atrium for a new spin on egg painting, and learn about the face-painting process used for female Cantonese opera roles at the same time
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20.04.2019, Studio, Xiqu Centre
During this 2-hour stone-painting workshop, Hong Kong’s first and only full-time stone painter Kam Shing-yan guides you through basic techniques, and helps you achieve a sense of focused calm that acts as a perfect antidote to the hustle and bustle of the surrounding city
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M+ Screenings: In the World, Of the World
12.04.2019 to 14.04.2019, Broadway Cinematheque
This weekend-long screening programme explores artistic community in an alternately turbulent and exhilarating era defined by transnational mobility and displacement
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The Stories Behind the Xiqu Centre
09.04.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre
In this talk, West Kowloon’s Executive Director of Performing Arts Louis Yu offers insight into the design and venue positioning of the Xiqu Centre, looking at the venue’s unusual use of space and its relationship with local Cantonese opera communities
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The Stage Movements of Cantonese Opera
06.04.2019, Seminar Hall & Studio 5, Xiqu Centre
This talk looks at how acting, martial arts and dance are combined in Cantonese opera stage movement to create patterns of formulaic gesture that help define character and contribute to the unfolding of plot
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02.04.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre
This talk explores the wide range of musical elements used in Cantonese opera, looking at the different vocal styles used for male and female roles, and the use of percussive instruments and rhythmic melodies to enhance mood and narrative
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M+ at Art Basel Hong Kong 2019
27.03.2019 to 31.03.2019, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
M+ presents its own human library at Art Basel Hong Kong 2019 to create dialogue and deepen understanding between M+ and the public
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Standard Chartered Tea House Theatre Experience
Tea House Theatre, Xiqu Centre
Presented by our Tea House Rising Stars Troupe, this 90-minute narrated performance is specially designed to introduce new audiences to Chinese traditional theatre. To recreate the atmosphere of Hong Kong’s early 20th century tea houses, audiences are also served traditional tea and dim sum during the show
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M+ Live Art: Miraculous Trajectories
29.03.2019, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
Co-presented with Art Basel Hong Kong, M+ Live Art: Miraculous Trajectories is a live cinema event featuring a seventy-minute film written and directed by artist Cheng Ran, with an original soundtrack composed and performed by electronic musician Shao Yanpeng
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Open Up Tuen Mun @ West Kowloon
24.03.2019, Art Park, West Kowloon
Join us and experience the transformation and vitality of Tuen Mun District! A community engagement event to present the local characteristics, art and culture of Tuen Mun from the perspective of past, present and future
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Hong Kong Flower Show 2019 – West Kowloon Cultural District
15.03.2019 to 24.03.2019, Victoria Park, Hong Kong
West Kowloon is staging a landscaped garden at this year’s Hong Kong Flower Show, taking inspiration from the Chinese hibiscus – the theme flower of this year’s event – and our upcoming venue, Freespace, in the West Kowloon Art Park. Join us at Victoria Park to explore a picture-perfect floral display
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09.03.2019 to 24.03.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre
Accompanying the China Theatre Association Plum Blossom Award Troupe performances, this screening series showcases the work of award-winning artists and the regional characteristics of different xiqu genres, and offers an exciting opportunity for audiences to catch some rare examples of fine xiqu cinema
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Eastern Ethos Express @ West Kowloon
17.03.2019, Art Park, West Kowloon
Come and get a taste of the characteristics of Eastern District and West Kowloon! A community engagement event to share the precious community memory and invite general public to explore the uniqueness of the districts
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Wearable Xiqu-inspired Jewellery – Simple Sequin Brooch
17.03.2019, Atrium, Xiqu Centre
In this fun, free workshop, local artists Kong Hoi-kan and Ng Sze-yu show you how to make a simple xiqu-inspired brooch using colourful sequins and share insight into the symbolic role of garments and head pieces in xiqu performances
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16.03.2019 to 17.03.2019, Eaton House
During this two-day event, we invite designers, artists, technologists, and cultural enthusiasts to use M+ Collections open data as raw material for creative and artistic projects
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ExecLab: Executive Short Courses 2019 – RADA Business
15.03.2019 to 17.03.2019, Studio, Xiqu Centre
Working closely with RADA Business, the commercial arm of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), the world-class learning programme builds on dramatic arts, helping people at work to become brilliant communicators
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A Master Selection of Mixed Xiqu Excerpts
16.03.2019, Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre
This mixed excerpt performance offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience highlights from some of the less familiar regional xiqu variations, including a Gannan tea-picking opera from Jiangxi and an archaic Ouju piece from Zhejiang
Tickets now on sale
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Wearable Xiqu-inspired Jewellery – Resin Stone Brooch
16.03.2019, Studio, Xiqu Centre
In this fun creative workshop, local artists Kong Hoi-kan and Ng Sze-yu show you how to make a xiqu-inspired costume brooch using coloured resin stones and share insight into the symbolic role of garments and head pieces in xiqu performances
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A Master Selection of Kunqu Excerpts
15.03.2019, Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre
Showcasing highlights from the oldest form of xiqu still performed today, this selection demonstrates the nuance, grace and regional characteristics of Kunqu acting and singing and the talents of the specialist performers
Tickets now on sale
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Freespace Happening (9–10.3.2019)
09.03.2019 to 10.03.2019, Art Park, West Kowloon
To wrap up the last weekend of this season’s Freespace Happening in style, our music stage offers a great mix of sounds from round the globe: Indonesian duo Senyawa, French avant-garde band Las Aves, US ensemble Mik Nawooj with Hong Kong’s MC Yan and musicians and much, much more!
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Art+Feminism: Wikipedia Edit-a-thon on Women in Art in Asia
09.03.2019, Asia Art Archive A Space
Want to help improve representation of women artists and makers on Wikipedia? Join our Wikipedia edit-a-thon on Saturday 9 March—the day after International Women’s Day
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The Application of Nanyin in Cantonese Opera
05.03.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre
Looking at popular nanyin excerpts, this talk explores the history and evolution of nanyin, a form of Cantonese narrative singing, as one of the delivery styles used in Cantonese opera
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2018 M+ / Design Trust Research Fellowship Public Talks
02.03.2019, Hotel Stage
In these public talks, the 2018 M+ / Design Trust Research Fellows, Hugh Davies and the team of Fan Lok Yi and Sampson Wong, present their research
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28.02.2019 to 01.03.2019, Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre
Adapted from a Korean folk tale, this original new play is set in imperial China and recounts the forbidden love between a coutesan’s daughter and the son of a magistrate. Will their commitment prove stronger than the challenges that face them, or will fate tear them apart?
Tickets now on sale
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From Plastic to Plasticity; Multiplicities to Negotiation
28.02.2019, Asia Society Hong Kong Center
In this talk, Tse discusses central concepts in her practice from the past twenty years. She is then joined in conversation by Christina Li, offering the audience a first glimpse of the Venice exhibition
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26.02.2019, Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre
Blending martial arts and romance, this new adaptation of a classic tale depicts the love between Madame White Snake and Xu Xian and their tragic separation by the powerful monk Fahai
Tickets now on sale
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26.02.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre
In this talk, members of the arts group The Gong Strikes One illustrate with live demonstrations how the vocal and instrumental melodies of nanyin are created and developed based on the lyrics
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Kowloon City Art Festival @ West Kowloon
23.02.2019 to 24.02.2019, Art Park, West Kowloon
Join us to explore the vitality of Kowloon City District and West Kowloon! A community engagement event in the themes of creativity, education and sharing with a wide range of cultural and recreational activities. Learn more about the uniqueness of Kowloon City and West Kowloon
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Xiqu Film Screenings (February)
09.02.2019 to 24.02.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre
Featuring seven Cantonese opera films produced in Hong Kong between 1948 and 1962, this screening series explores the complex relationship between on-stage and on-screen personas of some of the most renowned stage artists of the time. Also included is the award-winning contemporary documentary My Way, chronicling the struggle of two aspiring Cantonese opera actors
Tickets now on sale
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The Butterfly and the Red Pear Blossoms
23.02.2019, Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre
A talented scholar and a courtesan fall in love after years of exchanging letters and poetry. Although fate conspires to keep them apart, the pair are finally united after a series of tantalising twists and turns...
Tickets now on sale
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Face Painting and Costumes of Cantonese Opera
02.02.2019 to 23.02.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre
This talk looks at the face painting and dressing processes used in contemporary Cantonese opera, and at the ways in which costumes contribute to the portrayal of different characters
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22.02.2019, Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre
Based on the life of poet Lu You, this heart-wrenching play tells the story of his tragic separation from his first wife, and their accidental meeting, many years later, after both of them have remarried...
Tickets now on sale
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The Peregrinations of Confucius
20.02.2019 to 21.02.2019, Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre
Based on texts from the Analects, this new play recounts the exploits of Confucius, one of the most influential philosophers in Chinese history, who spent 14 years travelling to preach his wisdom to the warlords of ancient China
Tickets now on sale
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19.02.2019, Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre
This complex political love triangle tells the story of princess Cuibi, her lover general Xia, and their struggle with the powerful King of Qin, whose one goal is to make Cuibi his wife
Tickets now on sale
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The Knight Errant's Adventure in the Palace
18.02.2019, Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre
A belligerant war hero demands the hand of a beautiful princess. Discovering that she is in love with another he threatens the pair with an deadly ultimatum. Will the lovers manage to outwit this powerful and dangerous man?
Tickets now on sale
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17.02.2019, Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre
This romantic legend tells the tale of Ai and Yang. Separated by a raging fire set by a jealous prince, the young lovers jump to their death in the flames. Reunited in the afterlife, their love is blessed for eternity
Tickets now on sale
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Paper Doll Workshop: Cantonese Opera Roles and Costumes
17.02.2019, Atrium, Xiqu Centre
Learn about the costumes, colours and accessories worn by different characters in Cantonese opera plays in a fun free workshop for participants of all ages
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Paper Puppet Making Workshop: Lion Dance Head
16.02.2019, Studio, Xiqu Centre
For an auspicious start to the Lunar New Year, join our handicraft workshop and create a personalised paper puppet of a lion dance head and learn more about this unique cultural tradition!
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The Curious Case of A Red Embroidered Shoe
16.02.2019, Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre
In a tale of romantic intrigue and wrongdoing, a besotted court clerk murders his wife to elope with his lover. Although he carefully arranges the crime scene to make himself look innocent, there is one detail he overlooks...
Tickets now on sale
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Contributing to an Open Society through Digitised Museum Collections
15.02.2019, Hotel Stage
In this talk, the speaker discusses efforts to embrace the digital era’s potential to improve access to museum collections for creative reuse and public engagement
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Bound-foot Liu Jinding Battles at the Fort
10.02.2019, Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre
After a heated duel, general Gao and Liu Jinding, the female chief of a mountain fortress, find themselves so drawn to each other that when Gao is captured by the enemy, Liu single-handedly comes to his rescue. An action-packed romantic drama offering a treat for martial arts fans
Tickets now on sale
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Freespace Happening (10.2.2019)
10.02.2019, Art Park, West Kowloon
Join us to celebrate the first weekend of the Year of the Pig with live music from GDJYB, tfvsjs, Milkmouth, DJ sets from Solar Sound System, indigenous dance from Taiwan, valentine bouquet and stone painting workshops, story-telling and drawing sessions about fish ponds and local birds, pet games and more
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Life's Blessing to Shen and Meng
09.02.2019, Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre
A Spring Festival staple, this entertaining comedy tells the story of a marital crisis involving a browbeaten scholar, a philandering father-in-law, false accusations and lies. But can there still be a happy ending?
Tickets now on sale
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Visitors Making Meaning – Constructivist Learning in Museums
31.01.2019, Hotel Stage
In this session, the speaker introduces the idea of constructivist pedagogy and how it can be applied in museums to the creation of all kinds of interpretation materials
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21.01.2019 to 30.01.2019, Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre
For our Grand Opening, and the 60th anniversary of its premiere, we present legendary dramatist Tong Tik-sang’s The Reincarnation of Red Plum. Under the artistic direction of legendary veteran Pak Suet Sin, the production celebrates the living tradition of Cantonese opera, showcasing three generations of talented performers and offering a new perspective on an enduring classic
All tickets are sold out. Thank you for your support
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Xiqu Film Screenings (January)
26.01.2019 to 27.01.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre
Accompanying our Grand Opening performance The Reincarnation of Red Plum – an acclaimed production by Hong Kong’s legendary stars Yam Kim-fai and Pak Suet-sin – this screening series presents three comic Cantonese opera films showing the magical Yam-Pak chemistry on screen
Tickets now on sale
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West Kowloon at Hong Kong Trade Development Council Education and Careers Expo
24.01.2019 to 27.01.2019, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
Visit our booth to find out more about our latest developments and career opportunities. We will also be conducting on-site interviews during the fair. Register now
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The Stage Movements of Cantonese Opera
26.01.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre
This talk looks at how acting, martial arts and dance are combined in Cantonese opera stage movement to create patterns of formulaic gesture that help define character and contribute to the unfolding of plot
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The “Analects” in Cantonese Opera
24.01.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre
In this talk, Cantonese opera playwright Woo Kwok-yin shares insight into the creative process behind his work The Peregrinations of Confucius, and explores how xiqu as a multidisciplinary art form can breathe new life and relevancy into classic texts
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Freespace Happening (13.1.2019)
13.01.2019, Art Park, West Kowloon
Join us to welcome the new year with live music, dance and fun workshops! The eclectic line-up includes Cris Derksen Trio from Canada, David Boring, Dusty Bottle, Winter Bagels and Mo-Men-T x Experimental Vocal Ensemble from Hong Kong. Learn fun facts about food at the “Open Picnic: Eat Well” and more
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06.01.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre
Between 1940 and 1970, a large number of stars from the Cantonese opera stage entered the film industry in Hong Kong. This talk looks at the impact of this phenomenon, and the importance of Cantonese opera films as historical records of performances from that era
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01.01.2019 to 06.01.2019, Studio 5, Xiqu Centre
Join us during the Xiqu Centre Pre-opening Gala week for free workshops offering a hands-on introduction to three of Hong Kong’s most recognisable heritage arts: lion dances, Cantonese opera and paper cutting
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31.12.2018 to 06.01.2019, 2/F Foyer, Xiqu Centre
During the Xiqu Centre Pre-opening Gala, experienced professional performers share their experience and insight on various aspects of Cantonese opera in free and informal lunchtime and evening talks
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Pre-opening Gala Film Screenings
30.12.2018 to 06.01.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre
To complement our Grand Theatre performances we present five Cantonese opera films produced between 1957 and 2011 and featuring some of the legends of the golden age of Cantonese opera film
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30.12.2018 to 06.01.2019, Xiqu Centre
Explore our new facilities and discover fun facts about the rich art of xiqu on our 60-minute guided tours
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Presentations by the Tea House Rising Stars Troupe
30.12.2018 to 06.01.2019, Tea House Theatre, Xiqu Centre
Our special narrated programme offers visitors an introduction to Cantonese opera through a selection of short excerpts demonstrating a range of vocal and music styles
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Stage Dedication and Open Day Cantonese Opera performances
30.12.2018 to 06.01.2019, Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre
Featuring two specially selected set pieces and a series of excerpt performances, this auspicious programme is presented by the Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong and features some of the city’s most talented performers
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Creation for Freespace: Dramaturgy and Beyond
Through a range of public round-table discussions, small group practicum sessions and workshops, “Dramaturgy and Beyond” will delve into the discourse in and around the practice of dramaturgy and the tools that are useful to the creation of dance and theatre within the contemporary context
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Cantonese Opera in the Hong Kong Religious Context
05.01.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre
Professor Chan Sau-yan, expert on the musical structure, performance practice, ethnographic and historical aspects of Cantonese opera, looks at the tradition of religious operas in Hong Kong, and the challenges of preserving an ancient art form in a market-oriented economy
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Perfect Wives in Cantonese Operas
04.01.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre
Cantonese operas are often based on stories of love and married life. The wives in these tales may be meek and loving or powerful and cunning. This talk looks at some of the Xiqu Centre opening performances to explore what makes a “perfect wife” on the Cantonese opera stage
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The Functions and Practice of Xiaoqu (short tunes) in Cantonese Opera
03.01.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre
Melodic and song-like, xiaoqu can incorporate traditional instrumental melodies, folk songs, contemporary pop songs and even theme tunes from films and TV shows. This talk explores the origins and development of xiaoqu and its unique function in Cantonese opera
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Chinese Culture – A series of four talks
21.10.2018 to 18.12.2018
What is the relationship between modern society and these time-honoured art forms? In this series of talks, speakers from specialist fields will take you on a journey of discovery that reveals the beauty and history behind specific arts for your appreciation
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M+ Screenings: The Film Life of Ann Hui
08.12.2018 to 16.12.2018, KITEC & Broadway Cinematheque
M+ Screenings: The Film Life of Ann Huiaddresses the work of the acclaimed director, who has been quietly contributing to Hong Kong cinema for four decades
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Arts and Cultural Management – A series of five talks
09.10.2018 to 11.12.2018
In this series of talks, local practitioners offer insight into the different areas of work involved in running cultural organisations and explore the qualifications and passion required for a career in the arts and culture field
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Freespace Happening (8-9.12.2018)
08.12.2018 to 09.12.2018, Art Park, West Kowloon
Enjoy a fun-packed weekend of live music, movie screenings, art-making and more. For our first-ever screening on the facade of our new Freespace venue, we present two films that arts enthusiasts are sure to adore: ‘Faces Places’ and ‘The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and The Silk Road Ensemble’
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07.12.2018, Asia Society Hong Kong Center
In this M+ Matters | Keynote talk, Manuel Rabaté, Director of Louvre Abu Dhabi and a key figure in the development of the project, discusses this twenty-first-century encyclopedic museum as ‘a museum of experimentation, and a museum of meeting points’
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Negotiating Access and Preservation in the Contemporary Museum
06.12.2018, Hotel Stage
In this talk, the speaker examines the relationship between the notions of access and preservation in museums
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The Stories Behind the Xiqu Centre
24.11.2018, Asia Society Hong Kong Center
In this talk, West Kowloon’s Executive Director of Performing Arts Louis Yu offers insight into the design and venue positioning of the Xiqu Centre, looking at the venue’s unusual use of space and its relationship with local Cantonese opera communities
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Wikipedia Asian Month: Edit-a-thon on Exhibition Histories
24.11.2018, Asia Art Archive A Space
The event brings together participants to discuss, create, share, and improve articles and information about exhibition history in and about Asia on Wikipedia. Register now
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20.11.2018, H6 CONET
This talk explores the wide range of musical elements used in Cantonese opera, looking at the different vocal styles used for male and female roles, and the use of percussive instruments and rhythmic melodies to enhance mood and narrative
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Face Painting and Costumes of Cantonese Opera
13.11.2018, D2 Place ONE
This talk looks at the face painting and dressing processes used in contemporary Cantonese opera, and at the ways in which costumes contribute to the portrayal of different characters
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Freespace Happening (11.11.2018)
11.11.2018, Art Park, West Kowloon
Whether you are into music, dance, crafts, books or pets, autumn is the perfect time of year to enjoy whatever you love outdoors. On stage, as part of Taiwan Arts Festival, we present Constant & Change and Shallow Levée with their blend of post-rock, emo and Taiwanese folk…
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The Design of the Tea House Theatre
08.11.2018, CityU SCOPE Admiralty Learning Centre
In this talk, West Kowloon’s Head of Xiqu, Naomi Chung, offers insight into the positioning and operation of the Tea House Theatre, looking at how the venue offers visitors an intimate experience with the productions and how programmes are curated with first-time audiences in mind
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31.10.2018 to 03.11.2018, Hong Kong Arts Centre Shouson Theatre
Using performers aged between 10 and 13, and the biography of Belgium’s most notorious child killer Marc Dutroux, this provocative performance probes the limits of what children know, feel, and do, blending realism, brutality and black humour to reflect on the (re)presentation of human feelings on stage
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Hong Kong International Black Box Festival
11.10.2018 to 03.11.2018
Co-presented with HKREP, the four-week festival showcases unconventional theatre forms that blur the lines between representations of fiction and reality. Each production invites the audience to become aware of our agency, allowing us to experience theatre in energising ways. Tickets available at URBTIX now
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“Oedipus Schmoedipus” by post / HKRep (Australia/ Hong Kong)
26.10.2018 to 29.10.2018, HKRep Black Box
Engaging in multiple murders and suicides, the provocative Australian collective resurrect classic death scenes into an accessible, fun-filled spectacle with plenty of blood and gore. For each mammoth bloodbath, the artists enlist a cast of 25 volunteers to join the comic lament and slaughter. Don’t miss your chance to die
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SHOWTIME! Launching West Kowloon’s Artistic Strategy for Performing Arts
27.10.2018, Asia Society Hong Kong Center
In this free talk, Alison M Friedman, West Kowloon’s Artistic Director, Performing Arts shares the vision and plans for the district’s upcoming performing arts venues, the Xiqu Centre, Freespace and the Art Park, and looks at some of the projects lined up for the future
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Haunting Images: Live Cinema by Lim Giong
26.10.2018 to 27.10.2018, MOViE MOViE Cityplaza
Lim Giong performs in a live cinema event that rethinks the relationship between sound and image, featuring live scoring along with the projection of moving image
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The Stage Movements of Cantonese Opera
23.10.2018, CityU SCOPE Admiralty Learning Centre
This talk looks at how acting, martial arts and dance are combined in Cantonese opera stage movement to create patterns of formulaic gesture that help define character and contribute to the unfolding of plot
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21.10.2018, Art Park, West Kowloon
Come and join the fun at Hong Kong’s largest LGBTI event
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17.10.2018 to 21.10.2018, HKRep Black Box
When definitions of identity and gender are stripped away, who do you see? In this partly autobiographical 80-minute monologue, Premio Ubu-winner Silvia Calderoni peels away layers of scientific and historical convention and throws down a wild, breathtaking challenge to the audience to re-imagine identity beyond the definitions of binary gender
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Behind the Design of the Xiqu Centre
18.10.2018, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
In this talk, West Kowloon’s Executive Director of Performing Arts Louis Yu offers insight into the design and venue positioning of the Xiqu Centre, looking at the venue’s unusual use of space and its relationship with local Cantonese opera communities
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Freespace Happening (14.10.2018)
14.10.2018, Art Park, West Kowloon
October’s Freespace Happening brings you live music and dance with a taste of Korea! On stage, we have Korean singer-songwriter Gonne Choi presenting acoustic guitar songs fused with traditional Korean elements and Korean dance artist Hyeon Lee who shares Ganggangsullae, an ancient, traditional folk dance incorporating dancing and singing
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“One Fine Day” by New Youth Group (Beijing)
11.10.2018 to 14.10.2018, HKRep Black Box
19 Hong Kong residents share personal tales of happiness and heartbreak in tightly choreographed simultaneous recitals about a ”one fine day” in their life. Through the cacophony of sounds and voices, intensely intimate stories emerge, coming together in a profound and confronting experience for audiences and performers alike
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Roving Exhibition on the Xiqu Centre
West Kowloon is staging a roving exhibition on the Xiqu Centre in which the general public can gain a greater understanding on the construction progress of the venue which is scheduled for opening in late 2018, as well as its pre-opening programmes
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In Search of Southeast Asia through the M+ Collections
22.06.2018 to 30.09.2018, M+ Pavilion, West Kowloon
Encompassing visual art, design and architecture, and moving image works from, and about, Southeast Asia, the exhibition highlights how M+ is developing a unique perspective on the region as a place that is defined by multiple narratives, histories, and identities
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M+ Screenings: Southeast Asia Moving Image Mixtape
18.09.2018 to 23.09.2018, Tai Kwun & Broadway Cinematheque
M+ Screenings: Southeast Asia Moving Image Mixtape provides a composite, contemporary perspective on moving image works made around and about Southeast Asia in recent years
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18.09.2018, Campfire – Wong Chuk Hang
Cantonese opera plays an important role in the lives of people in Hong Kong. This talk explores its transition from the use of Mandarin to the Cantonese vernacular, demonstrating vocal styles and techniques and offering a deeper understanding of the aesthetic features of the art form
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Freespace Happening (8–9.9.2018)
08.09.2018 to 09.09.2018, Art Park, West Kowloon
On 8 and 9 September, Freespace Happening, our free outdoor music and arts event, returns at its permanent site in the brand new West Kowloon Art Park
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Dialogue | Gender Fluidity in Traditional Indonesian Dance
06.09.2018, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
Looking at gender fluidity in traditional Indonesian dance forms and the recognition of multiple genders in Indonesian cultural practices, dance artist Rianto, shares how his training and cultural background have helped him develop a unique dance vocabulary that embodies gender fluidity
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M+ Matters: Art and Design in the Digital Realm
01.09.2018, Tai Kwun
‘M+ Matters: Art and Design in the Digital Realm’ features a full day of artist talks, exploring how data collection, artificial intelligence, simulations, social media, and creative programming are all being leveraged by contemporary practitioners working online
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31.08.2018 to 01.09.2018, A Hall Studio, Tai Kwun
During this two-day ’M+ Data Design Hackathon’, participants are invited to examine how content from the M+ Collections might meaningfully add to open-source knowledge bases and be activated through new research and creative projects
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Tanzmesse 2018 - Dance in Hong Kong
With the theme “Dance in Hong Kong”, West Kowloon and HKADC are collaborating to present a delegation of Hong Kong dance artists and contemporary dance works at Tanzmesse 2018 from 30 August to 1 September 2018. Before Tanzmesse, West Kowloon has organised workshop and sharing for local dance practitioners
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31.08.2018, Tai Kwun
Don’t miss the FINAL-EVER public performance by the pioneering Seoul-based digital artist duo YOUNG-HAE CHANG HEAVY INDUSTRIES. There will also be a discussion after the performance
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12.08.2018 to 15.08.2018
With the theme of ‘far out’, M+ Summer camp 2018 invites practitioners in the fields of visual art, design, architecture, illustration, and moving image to inspire young people to use ordinary details as sources of creativity. Sign up now
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“What Is Stage” Public Seminar Two: Jan Pappelbaum’s Aesthetics of Scenography
10.08.2018, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Amphitheatre
To wrap up this year’s “What Is Stage: From Text To Space” series on the work of Jan Pappelbaum, Head of Stage Design at the Schaubühne Berlin, we are delighted to welcome Pappelbaum to join us in Hong Kong to share his experience in an in-depth public seminar
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What Is Stage: From Text to Space
10.06.2018 to 10.08.2018
Taking the theme “From Text to Space”, this year’s programme looks at the scenographic aesthetics of Jan Pappelbaum, head of Stage Design of Schaubühne Berlin. Register now
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Envisioning the Museum in the Age of Participation
03.08.2018, Hotel Stage
The talk invites the audience to consider the roles a museum plays in society, as well as the forms of participation that can both emerge from and shape a contemporary museum of visual culture
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17.07.2018, H6 CONET
This talk explores the musical elements of Cantonese opera, including vocal styles used by actors playing male and female roles, “melo-rhythmic” vocal forms and programmatic tunes, and more
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Our Death Won't Hurt Anybody – Freely inspired by The Art of War by Sunzi (Part 1)
06.07.2018 to 08.07.2018, Centre de Cultura Contemporania de Barcelona
Freely inspired by ten major tactics outlined on Sunzi’s The Art of War, the work delves into the thinking behind these strategies, and reflects on their relevance to the battles we encounter with the people around us, to wars between nations, and our own internal struggles
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Post-1949 Visual and Material Culture in China
05.07.2018, Asia Society Hong Kong Center
The talk considers critical issues in the first decades of the socialist state in China through a multidisciplinary lens, examining design and visual art
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101 Dialogue on Cantonese Opera
24.06.2018, Campfire – Wong Chuk Hang
In this talk, Pui Yan will share anecdotes and challenges in her career. In addition, she will introduce the costumes and make-up styles of sheng (male role) and dan, as well as singing styles and performing techniques used in Cantonese Opera. Participants may have the invaluable opportunities of trying on costumes
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