West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre

Last updated
The West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre, emblazoned with flower plaques, in 2012 West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre Outside View 2012.jpg
The West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre, emblazoned with flower plaques, in 2012

West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre is one of the flagship programmes of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA). The West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre has been held since 2012 by the WKCDA which aims to promote Cantonese opera and the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD). Due to its popularity, the WKCDA continues to organise the West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre annually after 2012. Starting from 2013, apart from Cantonese opera, the theatre also provides performances of modern music and Chinese dance. There was a New Year Fair being provided as well. [1]

Contents

Location

Since 2012, a temporary bamboo theatre, covering 1,800 square metres, has been set up by the WKCDA during the Chinese New Year for the performances. It is located next to the Tsim Sha Tsui Fire Station, at the junction of Canton Road and Austin Road, which is the future site of the Xiqu Centre. [2] In 2014, the performing stage has moved to the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade in the WKCD. [3]

History

2012

The West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre is the first cultural event organized by the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority to celebrate the Chinese New Year with theatrical inspiration. [4] The cost of land levelling and bamboo scaffolding is about HK$1,000,000. [5] The Bamboo Theatre was constructed traditionally using over 10000 bamboo stalks by 10 bamboo scaffolders within 2 weeks to provide 800-seat auditorium. In addition, it is the largest bamboo theatre built in Hong Kong.

The Cantonese opera actors from The Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong performed a total of 11 Cantonese operas from 20 January 2012 to 23 January 2012, including “Prime Minister of Six States” and “The Sassy Princess and Her Blunt Husband”. The Authority decided to put on two extra performance since the tickets of 6 original performance sold out within half an hour. [6] In order to attract local people, each ticket cost relatively low (HK$10). It is estimated that the Authority had to pay for about one million as allowance.

An exhibition of newly commissioned works by five contemporary artists, including Chu Hing-wah, Gaylord Chan, Michael Wolf, Samson Young and Henry Chu, is held in M+ (the future Museum of Visual Arts). Five rarely-seen opera-themed film classics, including John Woo's Princess Chang Ping (1976) and Ann Hui's Spooky Bunch (1980), also be shown in back-to-back outdoor screenings with English subtitles. [7]

2013

The West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre 2013, themed "City Memories" was held between January 30 and February 16, 2013, at the West Kowloon Cultural District, attracting a hundred thousand visitors. [8] The 2013 Bamboo Theatre was covered by a golden orange nylon net so as to make the venue look like an ancient palace-like architecture, [9] holding various performances, a fair and an exhibition during the 3-week period. A crossover of tradition and innovative Augmented Reality (AR) technology was also introduced in 2013's West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre. Visitors only needed to pay for some of the performances this year while the other activities are free of charge.

Performances at the Bamboo Theatre included 14 Cantonese operas (of which four had free admission), one Chinese dance performance (free admission as well) and 2 contemporary music concerts. The Cantonese opera performances were provided by different local opera troupes including Golden Glory Cantonese Opera Troupe (with Law Ka-Ying as one of the cast), Lung Fei Cantonese Opera Troupe (with Tse Suet-sum as one of the cast), Sun Moon Star Cantonese Opera Troupe, Golden Dragon Cantonese Opera Troupe, Sum Mei Cantonese Opera Troupe, Hong Kong Young Talent Opera Troupe and The Young Academy Cantonese Opera Troupe. 2 music performances, namely "A Cappella Platter" and "Flower Music" were performed by A Cappella Zhong Yue Feng and SIU2 respectively. Finally, the dance performance was by Hong Kong Dance Company.

The newly introduced AR technology allowed visitors to interact with the venue. For the exhibition, the designs of the future Xiqu Centre was displayed. With the AR Xiqu Centre App, visitors could scan the AR code of the winning design of the Xiqu Centre Design Competition and watch an animation of the design. Apart from the exhibition, the world's first AR Code Floral Panels were available at the Bamboo Theatre too. Scanning it with their smartphones or tablets, visitors could have a look of the AR blueprint of the Xiqu Centre on their devices. [10]

2014

The 2014 West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre was held during 17 January to 9 February. [11] The location was changed to West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade due to the construction of Xiqu Centre. The venue of 2014 West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre was 4 times bigger than that in 2012 and 2013. [12] Different kinds of Chinese operas such as kunqu and jingkunqu were performed on a free-of-charge basis. Experienced and amateur artists were invited to participate in the performance. Classical Chinese movies, which were mainly about Chinese opera songs, were shown in the theatre. Talks and educational activities concerning the development of Chinese opera were also included in the 2014 West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre. [13]

Tickets

In 2012, the ticket price for Cantonese opera of the West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre was HK$10 while it was free for M+ Bamboo Theatre Exhibition and M+ Bamboo Cinema. [14] Later in 2013, the ticket price has increased by at least 10 times to HK$150. [15] in 2014, the ticket price has increased by HK$200 to HK$280. [16]

Related Research Articles

Hong Kong Heritage Museum History museum in Man Lam Road, Sha Tin

Hong Kong Heritage Museum is a museum of history, art and culture in Sha Tin, Hong Kong, located beside the Shing Mun River. The museum opened on 16 December 2000. It is managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Hong Kong Government. The six permanent exhibits and the original temporary exhibits were designed by design firm Reich+Petch along with Lord Cultural Resources.

Cantonese opera Chinese opera tradition originating in Guangdong province

Cantonese opera is one of the major categories in Chinese opera, originating in southern China's Guangdong Province. It is popular in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong, Macau and among Chinese communities in Southeast Asia. Like all versions of Chinese opera, it is a traditional Chinese art form, involving music, singing, martial arts, acrobatics, and acting.

Liza Wang Hong Kong actress and singer

Elizabeth "Liza" Wang Ming-chunSBS, is a Hong Kong diva, actress and MC. She is a personality in Chinese-speaking communities. She has been nicknamed "The Big Sister" in the Hong Kong entertainment circle. Wang was a delegate in the National People's Congress from 1988 to 1997, and she is a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

West Kowloon Cultural District

The West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) is a large arts development in Hong Kong. Based on a Foster and Partners master plan and comprising 40 hectares, the district will eventually include 17 venues. The Xiqu Centre for Chinese opera, the Freespace centre for contemporary performance, and the M+ Museum are already open, while the Hong Kong Palace Museum, Lyric Theatre, and other spaces for arts education and commercial structures, are expected. It is managed by the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA).

Hong Kong Cultural Centre

The Hong Kong Cultural Centre is a multipurpose performance facility in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. Located at Salisbury Road, it was built by the former Urban Council and, since 2000, has been administered by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Hong Kong Government. A wide variety of cultural performances are held here.

Austin station (MTR) MTR station in Kowloon, Hong Kong

Austin is an underground MTR rapid transit station on the Tuen Ma line in Hong Kong, situated perpendicular to Wui Cheung Road and Austin Road West, and formerly adjacent to Jordan Road Ferry Pier Bus Terminus.

Shanghai Street

Shanghai Street is a 2.3 km long street in the Jordan, Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok areas of Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. Completed in 1887 under the name of Station Street (差館街), it was once the most prosperous street in Kowloon. It originates from the south at Austin Road, and terminates in the north at Lai Chi Kok Road. Parallel to Shanghai Street are Nathan Road, Temple Street, Portland Street, Reclamation Street and Canton Road. Though parallel, Shanghai Street was marked by 2- to 3-floor Chinese-style buildings while Nathan Road was marked by Western-style buildings.

Yau Ma Tei Theatre Historic building in Kowloon, Hong Kong

Yau Ma Tei Theatre, sometimes transliterated as "Yaumati Theatre"), once the largest theatre in Kowloon, is located at the junction of Waterloo Road and Reclamation Street, in Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong. It is classified as "Grade II Historic Building" It is the only remaining pre-World War II theatre in Kowloon. It was recently converted into a venue for Cantonese opera. Another historical structure, Yau Ma Tei Fruit Market is adjacent to the theatre, across Reclamation Street.

Michael Francis Lynch is an Australian arts administrator.

Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong is a non-profit association of Cantonese opera groups and artists in Hong Kong, established in the 1880s.

Sunbeam Theatre

Sunbeam Theatre is a landmark theatre in Hong Kong showcasing Cantonese opera. It is located at 423 King's Road, North Point, near the intersection with Shu Kuk Street.

Hong Kong Arts Festival Hong Kong festival (est. 1973)

The Hong Kong Arts Festival (HKAF), launched in 1973, is a major international arts festival committed to enriching the cultural life of the city by presenting leading local and international artists in all genres of the performing arts as well as a diverse range of “PLUS” and educational events in February and March each year.

Mathias Woo Chinese designer

Mathias Woo Yan Wai joined the arts collective Zuni Icosahedron in 1988 and is now the Executive Director cum Co-Artistic Director of the group. Woo is renowned for his creative career in multimedia theatre as a scriptwriter, director, designer, producer as well as curator with a portfolio of more than 70 original theatre works, which are best known for their unique rendering of space and technology.

Lau Wai Ming is an accomplished Cantonese opera artist from Hong Kong specializing in scholar-warrior roles (文武生). She graduated from Belilios Public School and completed her opera training at Yun Mun Cantonese Opera Academy 「韻文粵劇學苑」 and the Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong Cantonese Opera Academy 「八和粵劇學院」. She is a veteran educator and arts advisor on Cantonese opera for children and youth, and she sits in several key Cantonese opera associations and committees,

Ronald Lu & Partners is a Hong Kong architecture and interior design firm founded by Ronald Lu in 1976. The practice provides architecture, interior design and master planning services in various sectors including culture and community, education, mix-used, commercial, residential, hotel and retail, transit-oriented development.

M+ Art museum in West Kowloon Cultural District, Hong Kong

M+ is a museum of visual culture in the West Kowloon Cultural District of Hong Kong. It exhibits twentieth and twenty-first century visual culture encompassing visual art, design and architecture, and moving image. It opened on 12 November 2021.

Freespace Fest Festival in Hong Kong

Freespace Fest is an outdoor arts festival held in West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade, Hong Kong. It is a two-day event held annually starting from 2012, held before the Clockenflap Music and Arts Festival in the same area. It features a number of activities such as an open market and dancing performances. Participants are also encouraged to have picnics. There is normally no charge for admission, although a special event in 2014 named 'M.U.R.S.' which charged for admission.

Night markets in Hong Kong are bazaars usually located in older areas like Sham Shui Po, Mong Kok or Sheung Wan. Besides selling toys, clothes and food, some Hong Kong night markets also provide divination to visitors, such as the Temple Street Night Market, which is popular with foreign visitors.

Hong Kong Palace Museum Art and history museum in West Kowloon, Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Palace Museum exhibits artefacts from Beijing's Palace Museum in Hong Kong's West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD). Construction began in April 2019 and the museum officially opened on 3 July 2022, in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong.

Ka-Sing Lam was a former actor and Cantonese opera singer from Hong Kong. Lam is credited with over 300 films.

References

  1. ↑ "Over 100,000 People Enjoy West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre at Arts Hub". West Kowloon. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  2. ↑ "West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre | 17.01.2014 – 9.02.2014 | West Kowloon Cultural District". West Kowloon. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  3. ↑ "West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre | 17.01.2014 – 9.02.2014 | West Kowloon Cultural District". West Kowloon. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  4. ↑ "West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre". 2012 West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  5. ↑ "2012 West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre - Celebrate the Chinese New Year". SINA. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  6. ↑ "West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre's 4800 tickets sold out within half an hour". Wen Wei Po. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  7. ↑ "West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre". Time Out Hong Kong. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  8. ↑ "The West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre Closes, Attracted Over a Hundred Thousand Visitors, which is a 10-times Growth". Oriental Daily. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  9. ↑ "The West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre Transforming into a Palace". Oriental Daily. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  10. ↑ "West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre 2013". West Kowloon Cultural District Authority. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  11. ↑ "Speech of Chief Secretary for Administration for the Opening Ceremony of West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre". The HKSAR Government. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  12. ↑ "West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre: More variety of programmes and Price Markup". Yahoo News HK. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  13. ↑ "The Price of West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre Ticket was doubled". Oriental Daily. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  14. ↑ "West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre". 2012 West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  15. ↑ "West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre Makes a Welcome Return in Spring 2013Tickets for Cantonese Opera and Music Performances starting 20 December". West Kowloon. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  16. ↑ "West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre | 17.01.2014 – 9.02.2014 | West Kowloon Cultural District". West Kowloon Cultural District Authority. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.