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The search by a long-separated mother and a daughter for each other is one of the fantastical social network adventures in "facehome", a production by Black Bird Theatre to be staged during this summer's International Arts Carnival (IAC).
Organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the IAC will run from July 11 to August 17 and will feature more than 410 events for family entertainment.
In "facehome", a teenage girl, separated from her mother since childhood, shares her daily life via social media in the hope that her mother will get in touch with her someday. After conversing with a mysterious man on Facebook, she arranges to meet him, believing that he might know where her mother is. Likewise, the mother, under a different identity, is following her daughter online. The mother also has online encounters with many others, including a man who pretends to be a woman and collects "likes"; an introvert with few friends in reality but over 5 000 "friends" on the Internet; and a complex youngster with more than 10 Facebook accounts.
The artistic director of Black Bird Theatre and playwright of "facehome", Mr Tang Sai-cheong, said, "Modern people are absorbed in the virtual world on the Internet. We hope this theatre production can show the disparity between a virtual world and reality. A virtual world is fun, but transient and may not be reliable, while the physical world is substantial, lasting and inspirational. After all, affection can only be experienced in face-to-face communication."
Presented in Cantonese, "facehome" will be staged at 7.30pm on July 18 and 19, and at 3pm on July 19 and 20, at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Studio Theatre. Tickets priced at $120 and $180 are available at URBTIX.
Half-price tickets are available for full-time students, senior citizens, people with disabilities and their minders, and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. Booking discounts of up to 20 per cent are available for IAC full-price performing arts/film programmes.
Programme brochures are available at URBTIX outlets or at the carnival website, www.hkiac.gov.hk.
For programme enquiries, please call 2370 1044. Internet bookings can be made at www.urbtix.hk. Telephone credit card bookings can be made on 2111 5999.
Ends/Thursday, June 19, 2014
Issued at HKT 16:42
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