Highlight Programmes at West Kowloon Cultural District Authority

WestK x Théâtre de la Feuille: Book of Mountains and Seas – The Fates of Mountains and Rivers 

This October, WestK and Théâtre de la Feuille present Book of Mountains and Seas – The Fates of Mountains and Rivers, a work-in-progress physical theatre production inspired by the Chinese classic, The Book of Mountains and Seas, a fantastical account of pre-Qin China that weaves geography, mythology, travelogues and shamanic texts with tales of strange happenings and mythical creatures, and legends from around the world.  

This collaborative production will lead the audience on an imaginative exploration of the origins of the universe and the nature of existence in real and mythical worlds through physical expression and a blend of Eastern and Western performance traditions.

Courtesy of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority

Black Box Chinese Opera Festival 2024 

The seventh edition of the Black Box Chinese Opera Festival from 3 to 24 October will feature original experimental xiqu productions in a variety of regional genres and styles. In addition to three acclaimed Xiqu Centre original productions of Farewell My Concubine (New Adaptation), Wenguang Explores the Valley and The Imperial Decree, two productions by troupes from Mainland China will be premiered outside the Mainland. Chongqing Chuanju Theatre invited the Xiqu Centre’s creative team for the first time to co-curate and co-present the new Chuanju opera adaptation of Farewell My Concubine. Another highlight is The Dream of the Straw Bridge, an innovative production by the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe. The festival will also be complemented by a series of xiqu-inspired wearable art workshops to promote the inheritance and innovation of the Chinese opera artform. 

Courtesy of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority

Freespace Jazz Fest 2024

Celebrating its sixth edition, Freespace Jazz Fest 2024, one of the most anticipated events among the region’s music lovers, will return from 24 to 27 October. The festival features an all-star lineup including American legendary pianist Herbie Hancock, Grammy Award winner Antonio Sánchez and young Indonesian pianist Joey Alexander. Hong Kong pop favourite RubberBand will join forces with award-winning local jazz musician Patrick Lui for to create a new fusion of jazz and Cantopop. The Patrick Lui Jazz Orchestra will meticulously rearrange a strong selection of RubberBand songs and Hong Kong movie themes with a big band twist.  

The festival takes place across multiple indoor and outdoor stages at the West Kowloon Cultural District. Alongside highlight performances, the festival offers free outdoor music from around the world, as well as workshops, a gourmet food and beverages market, and much more. 

Courtesy of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority

HKT x WESTK POPFEST

Hong Kong’s flagship pop music festival HKT x WESTK POPFEST will return from 31 October – 3 November at the West Kowloon Cultural District. POPFEST will present a stellar line-up of pop talent, featuring the hottest local idols and groups including Anson Lo from MIRROR, COLLAR, Jeffrey Ngai, Phoebus from P1X3L and Yan Ting, as well as popular overseas artists including UK R&B singer and Brit Awards “Best British Female Artist” 2019 Jorja Smith, Japanese producer MONDO GROSSO, Japanese singer Hikari Mitsushima, Korean R&B singer-songwriter Colde and Taiwanese singer-songwriter SHOU.  More than 60 programmes will be staged across WestK’s diverse venues, including Wonderland, Freespace, Art Park, M+ and Lau Bak Livehouse.  

POPFEST will continue to blend pop culture with artistic creativity, with the award-winning UK immersive art light installation Submergence featured at WestK’s Harbourside Lawn, and HKT x WESTK POPFEST: “Submerged Paradise” – Harbourside Installation Dance, the city’s largest-ever music and dance party. Curated by renowned dance director Shing Mak and joined by local pop artists and dancers including Stanley from MIRROR and King Maker V Champion Lyman Heung, POPFEST will offer music fans a one-of-a-kind multi-dimensional experience. 

Courtesy of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority

Freespace Dance 2024

From 21 November – 15 December, Freespace Dance will return with a cutting-edge programme of dance that responds, reinvestigates and reimagines concepts of time and space through a range of choreographic and performance approaches. 

Opening the festival is Freespace Dance-exhibitionist, a newly commissioned work by Hong Kong dance artist Daniel Yeung revisiting multimedia solo dance work from his acclaimed career. International productions include emerging Thai dance artist Kornkarn Rungsawang’s Mali Bucha: Dance Offering, a work blending elements of traditional Thai ritual dance with augmented and virtual reality; Greek choreographer Dimitris Papaioannou’s INSIDE, a six-hour video installation on the landscape of daily life, and BACKSIDE, a behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of the marathon work; plus Austrian choreographer Florentina Holzinger’s TANZ, a bold exploration of the cultivation of the female body merging the rigours of ballet, circus arts and stunt work with body horror and dark comedy. 

The programme also features work-in-progress presentations by TS Crew (HK) x contact Gonzo (Japan), and Hong Kong artist Zelia ZZ Tan, as well as sharing sessions with local independent dance artists. 

Courtesy of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority

Stay tuned for more details coming soon on our website! 

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