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Performed by Ming Ri Theatre Company, in collaboration with artists from China and the United States, five shows of "Playing with Klee" will be held between January 19 to January 21, 2001 at Hong Kong City Hall Theatre.

"Playing with Klee" draws its inspiration from Paul Klee's pictures. In this production, artists from Hong Kong, China and USA exchange aesthetics of Chinese and American puppetry and skillfully demonstrate their craftsmanship in building different forms of puppet. Shadow puppets, marionettes and mask puppets are combined with visual art, movement, body language, projection and intriguing music, bringing the audience to a wonderful journey which is full of extensive and rich theatrical illusions.

The Director in this production is Larry Hunt from USA while Professor Bart P. Roccoberton from USA and Simon Wong from Hong Kong are the Associate Directors. Hunt established Masque in 1980, an international touring company which produces original theatre with emphasis on "Mask" and its expressive capabilities. He received Master of Fine Arts at the University of Connecticut and taught mask class at the university. Hunt always collaborate with other artists in many productions where he gets new inspirations.

Professor Roccoberton is a professional puppet artist for over twenty five years and is the Producer for the first Connecticut International Festival of Puppet Arts. In 1995, Roccoberton received a major award from New England Theatre Conference in recognition of his work in puppetry in New England and throughout the world. Simon Wong, the Artistic Director of Ming Ri Theatre Company, is active in promoting children arts and theatre education in the past ten years.

The cast include Keqin Cui who is a National Class One Performer and gains the reputation of being the "Best of the Best in Puppetry Art in China". Cui has also won the Best Performer (Male) Award at the 1998 Second International Puppetry Festival of the Czech Republic. Other performers include Zhang Hua Hua, Simon Hunt, Douglas N. Paasch from USA and Chan Lik Sang from Hong Kong. Music composers include Liang Liang, Janet Marlow and Liam Curtis from USA. Puppet and mask construction in-charged by David Regan, Larry Hunt and Douglas N. Paasch from USA. Stephen Kaplin from USA will be the shadow puppet constructor.

The schedule of the five performances are as follows:

Date                                              Time
January 19-21, 2001 (Friday to Sunday)            7.30pm
January 20-21, 2001 (Saturday & Sunday)           2.30pm

Tickets priced at $130 and $90 are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price concessions are available to senior citizens, people with disabilities and full-time students. Group booking discount of 10% for each purchase of 4 to 10 tickets, 15% discount for each purchase of 11 to 20 tickets and 20% discount for each purchase of 21 or more tickets are available.

Programme enquiries can be made at 2734 2937 while ticketing enquiries and reservations on 2734 9009.

End/ Thursday, December 21, 2000

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