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Local theatre director Ho Ying-fung will stage an installation theatre performance titled "Special Delivery 2: Politely Intractable Still" in April.
"Special Delivery: Politely Intractable" was a collaboration between Ho and Taipei's M?bius Strip Theatre last year. In "Special Delivery 2: Politely Intractable Still", Ho continues his contemplation on the former Czech Prime Minister Vˆhclav Havel and his "Letters to Olga".
In 1979, Havel was sent to jail on political charges. During his imprisonment, he safeguarded his free will by putting his meticulous self-reflection into writing. He looked deep into his heart so his soul could be kept aloft.
The performance reflects on how, nowadays, people walk deep into the jungle of spiritual confinement on their free will. Hong Kong people move their bodies around, failing to notice freedom departing. Is the city too noisy for the voice of the soul to be heard?
Ho said the production crew members have put a lot of thought on design into the theatre presentation, but added that courageous participation by the audience will be needed for the meaning of this performance to come through. "The audiences are the final piece of the puzzle to make up the production. They should not stay at the usual detached, safe distance in the audience block if they want to get the most out of the 100 minutes they are going to spend in the theatre," he said.
To enhance the delivery of an "installation theatre experience," members of the audience can install a tailor-made smartphone app through which they will be able to see incoming messages on their phone and hear it ring. No response will be possible by phone, however. Ho feels that city dwellers have been confined to the expectation of new messages that pop up on their mobile phone screens. He said, "We are free to bring our phones everywhere, but we are chained to the anticipation of the next incoming call."
Multimedia designer Adrian Yeung has created the app with the concept of an access pass in mind - a pass to a mind jail with its free-to-go image proving to be a mirage. It implies communication while, in reality, consumption reigns.
Performed in Cantonese and Putonghua, "Special Delivery 2: Politely Intractable Still" is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and produced by Hobitgoon. It will be staged at 8pm on April 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 and 12, and 3pm on April 5, 6 and 13 at the Cattle Depot Theatre. Tickets priced at $220 are now available at URBTIX outlets, on the Internet and by credit card telephone booking. Half-price tickets are available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and their minders, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients (limited tickets for CSSA recipients available on a first-come, first-served basis). A maximum discount of 20 per cent is offered for the group booking packages. Please refer to the programme leaflet for discount details. A meet-the-artists session will be held after the first performance.
For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7323 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/multi_arts/program_481.html. Ticketing enquiries can be made on 2734 9009 and credit card telephone bookings on 2111 5999. Tickets can also be booked online at www.urbtix.hk.
Ends/Friday, February 21, 2014
Issued at HKT 12:16
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