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Theatre du Pif, a Hong Kong theatre company known for its cross-cultural heritage and bilingual productions in Cantonese, English or both, will soon re-run their highly acclaimed work, "The Will to Build". The production will then tour to Shanghai as a Hong Kong Hong Kong Special Administrative Region programme for Expo 2010 Shanghai China (Shanghai Expo).
Exploring five key elements - space, pace, functionality, spirituality and identity - "The Will to Build" examines the past, present and future of Hong Kong's relentless cycle of construction and destruction, and its effects on the bodies, hearts and minds of the city's inhabitants. It skillfully weaves together verbatim transcripts of Theatre du Pif's interviews with real people who are intimately involved in and affected by our city's obstinate will to build.
In this production, Theatre du Pif again collaborates with BURST TV, a London-based collective of multi-media artists who have worked on a touring project with the Pet Shop Boys. They have also invited Australian actress Claire Nicholls to join the production. The local team includes Bonni Chan (director/ text/ performer), Charfi Hung (stage designer), Lau Ming-hang (lighting designer) and Cheng Man-wing (costume designer); and the main cast Sean Curran, Anson Lam, Sheung Ming-fai, Shirley Tsoi, Ivy Tsui and Benny Yu.
Using a workshop and devising process as well as collaborations with dramaturges and artists from other disciplines, Theatre du Pif orchestrates movement, text and visual images to produce productions acclaimed both for their power and their poetry. Besides creating new productions, they have also run a wide range of educational and community outreach programmes in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom.
Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, "The Will to Build" (2010 version) will be performed in English and Cantonese with Chinese and English surtitles. The performances will be at 8pm on July 30, 31 and August 1 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), and 4pm on July 31 and August 1 (Saturday and Sunday) at the Theatre, Hong Kong City Hall. Tickets priced at $120 and $180 are now available at URBTIX outlets. Senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients may have 50% off (limited quotas for students and CSSA recipients on a first-come, first-served basis). A maximum discount of 20% is offered for group booking. Please refer to the programme leaflet for details.
For enquiries about the programme, call 2268 7325 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp . Ticketing enquiries and reservations can be made on 2734 9009 and credit card telephone bookings on 2111 5999. Tickets can also be booked online on www.urbtix.hk .
As an Shanghai Expo programme, "The Will to Build" will be presented at the Drama Theatre, Shanghai Grand Theatre, at 7.30pm on September 24 and 25 (Friday and Saturday). For enquiries, please call 2904 2030 (Theatre du Pif). Ticketing details will be announced later.
Ends/Friday, June 18, 2010
Issued at HKT 18:50
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