HONG KONG EXHIBITIONS Cha Chan Teng Photographer Rick Martin's obsession with cha chan teng, Hong Kong's old local cafes, resulted in an artful reclamation of what is an everyday institution, the HK equivalent of London's 'greasy spoon' cafes. Martin's eye allows the tatty tea houses to radiate with a sense of heritage usually reserved for the oldest colonial buildings. John Batten Gallery, 64 Peel St, Central. Inquiries: 2854 1018 or batten@netvigator.com . Until Apr 12 The Universe Is My Heart As artists go, Irene Chou is a late starter - she had her first painting lesson at 30. Now 79, the Brisbane-based painter has clocked up a huge collection of works and a few awards along the way, including the Hong Kong Artist of the Year title in 1988. A turbulent personal life only increased the power behind the broad brushstrokes of her ink paintings. The Universe Is My Heart showcases her work from 1992 - when she suffered a stroke - and it is evident illness failed to take away the explosive energy her paintings radiate. Pao Galleries, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Harbour Rd, Wan Chai. Free admission. Inquiries: 2582 0200. Until Wed Phong & Binh Combining the talents of two of Vietnam's most highly regarded painters, hkfineart.com presents Dao Hai Phong and Nguyen Thanh Binh in a joint exhibition that features new works. Phong's colourful landscapes provide a contrast to the smoother, more subtle approach of Binh. hkfineart.com, 15/F, The Centrium, 60 Wyndham St, Central. Inquiries: 2537 7322 or e-mail hkart1@net vigator.com. Opens Thu until Apr 2 STAGE Piano Quartet Of The Philharmonia Of The Nations Returning after the triumphant performances in 2000, the quartet makes its highly anticipated return. Founding member Justus Frantz, a first-class pianist with the Berlin Philharmonic, has recorded with the likes of Leonard Bernstein and Herbert von Karajan, and heads a multi-talented bunch who together will perform Mozart's Piano Concerto in G Minor, a piece created by the composer at the height of his ambition. Also included in the repertoire are compositions from Brahms, providing a contrast between the two masters. Tue, 8pm. HK City Hall Theatre. $300, $150 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2722 1650 The Four Seasons: Autumn Maze Using the seasons as its central metaphor, this series depicts four women each at different stages in their lives. After the success of last June's Summer Fire: A Mirage, Autumn Maze is the second instalment, starring Annie Ling in the solo role. The drama raises a variety of existential questions as the 'all-round' housewife finds herself playing roles for everyone but herself. In Cantonese, no surtitles. Thu until Mar 24, 7.45pm and Mar 22-23, 2.45pm. McAulay Studio, Hong Kong Arts Centre. $95 ($60 matinee). Inquiries: www.hkac.org.hk or 2582 0200 Stories Of Our 'Little Sisters' A localised version of Eve Ensler's Vagina Monologues is one of the features of the Hong Kong Women's Theatre Festival, Girl Play. Using interviews with local women, it explores women's struggles with their bodies, relationships and the way they are perceived. A frank illustration of women's private thoughts, it explores taboo topics such as masturbation, orgasm, menstruation, pregnancy and abortion while retaining its sense of charm. In Cantonese. Fri-Sat, 8pm. On & On Theatre, Cattle Depot Artist Village, 63 Ma Tau Kok Rd, To Kwa Wan, Kowloon. $70. Inquiries: www.hkac.org.hk or 2582 0200 NIGHT SCENE Drum + Bass Fiesta Tour A member of jungle-genius Roni Size's Reprazent crew, DJ Suv, is set to mix it up with one of the most talked about MCs today, MC Stamina. This will be the Asian leg of the V-Recordings sponsored tour, and in support will be local bad boys Arkham and Fat Demon of the White Label Crew. Fri, 10pm-late. Amnesia, 3/F 30 Hollywood Rd, Central. $100 on the door. Inquiries: 9234 6049 or whitelabel@ mail.hongkong.com Salvation Asian Tour One of the more flamboyant club nights to tour the globe, Salvation is a camped-up mixture of DJs, live dancers and extreme hedonism. With regular nights at Piccadilly's Cafe de Paris in London, its national and international tours under the Mission brand have given it a massive following. DJs Gonzalo and Luigi Rossi, Amsterdam's Michael Bihary and Sydney's Gregory Bach are among the performers. Fri, 10pm. Queens Bar & Disco. $180 in advance. Bookings: 9801 5015. Inquiries: 2522 7773 The 1nitestand Comedy Club This month's edition features Andrew Maxwell, who is on the verge of a major breakthrough in Britain thanks to a relentless touring schedule. Alongside him will be Micky Flanagan, who brings a touch of cockney observational wit, and Keith Fields, whose combination of magic tricks and mirth-making has led to many TV appearances. In English. Mar 23, 8pm-10.30pm, Stix Music Bar, The Park Lane Hotel (Basement), 310 Gloucester Rd, Causeway Bay. $220 through HK Ticketing (or $250 on the door/$200 for air crew on presentation of ID). Inquiries and bookings: 3128 8288 EXTRA-CURRICULAR 2003 Hong Kong Flower Show Victoria Park is transformed into a spectacular botanic display with landscape and floral designs from more than 130 local, mainland and overseas artists. This year's theme flower is the Phalaenopsis (orchid to the layman), showcased in some exceedingly dramatic floral sprays. Activities include a student drawing competition, a photo competition, best exhibit competition, music and cultural performances, floral art demonstrations, plant maintenance workshops, green stalls, guided visits, recreation programmes and family games. Free admission, Victoria Park, Causeway Bay. Inquiries: 2723 6232 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk . Ends today FCC Luncheon With Andrew Sheng Being chairman of the Hong Kong Securities & Futures Commission is an unenviable task at the best of times. Yet, as Financial Secretary Anthony Leung Kam-chung so eloquently said recently, it is also 'the worst of times', with the Securities and Futures Ordinance set to come into force on April 1. Addressing the central issues at this luncheon is the man in charge of implementing it. Whether or not Sheng, a former chartered accountant and deputy chief of the monetary authority, can ease your anxieties is another matter. In English. Mar 20, 12.30pm. $170 ($150 for FCC members) Foreign Correspondents' Club, Lower Albert Rd, Central. Registration and inquiries: 2521 1511 Literary Talk By Zafer Senocak Zafer Senocak has lived in Germany since 1970 and is one of the leading voices when it comes to discussions about multiculturalism, national and cultural identity. A widely published poet, essayist, journalist and editor, he has won several prestigious literary awards. He will contribute to a reading of his celebrated Atlas Of A Tropical Germany - Essays On Politics & Culture, 1990-1998. In English. 6pm, Sat. Free admission. Goethe Studio, 14/F Hong Kong Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai. Inquiries: 2802 0088 MACAU ARTS FESTIVAL Excerpts from Kun Opera This selection of kun opera performances will feature excerpts from The Gift Of A Sword and Journey To The West - The Loan Of A Fan. Today, 10am. St Paul's Ruins, Hillside Pavilion, Macau. In Putonghua, no subtitles. Inquiries: (853) 335 141 The Peach Blossom Fan Performed by the Shanghai Kun Opera Company, this piece (written by Gong Shang Ren in the Qing dynasty) is a blend of Beijing and kun operatic styles. This production is newly arranged by well-known Chinese director Yang Xiaoqing and stars one of China's top female opera stars, Yang Chunxia. Subtitles in English, Chinese and Portuguese. Today, 8pm. Macau Cultural Centre, Outer Harbour, Grand Auditorium. 120, 80, 60 patacas. Inquiries: (853) 335 141 Lusopop Marta Plantier is one of the fastest rising Portuguese pop stars. Her eclectic repertoire spans jazz, soul, hip-hop and blues, but it's what she's capable of on stage that truly sets her apart from her contemporaries. Open air. Tues, 9pm. Macau Cultural Centre Plaza. Free. Inquiries: (853) 335 141 NATIONAL BEIJING Birds And Pigs Sichuan art academy graduate Zhou Jinhua shows paintings of the world from a bird's vantage point, and Nanjing art academy product Wan Yisheng exhibits his ideas of how humans resemble pigs. Art captions in Chinese and English. Tues-Fri, 11am-7pm, Schoeni Art Gallery, Xiandai heng (SOHO complex) Bldg B, Room 904. Free. Inquiries: (8610) 8580-2142. Until Apr 10 Full Moon Party Instead of sporting green beer and leprechauns on St Patrick's Day, the Club bar celebrates the full moon with a party featuring trance tunes. Mon, 11pm until late. The Club is on a north-south alley one block west of Sanlitun Bar Street in Chaoyang District, across from Poacher's bar. 50 yuan (HK$53) per person. Inquiries: (8610) 6417 7793, 6417 7792, (86) 1300 113 5089 GUANGZHOU French Neo-Realism Exhibition A showcase of 60 works by 13 neo-realism French artists, including Arman and Cesar. 9am-5pm, closed Mon. Guangdong Arts Museum, Er Sha Island. Tel: (86 20) 873 51468. 15 yuan. Until Apr 20 Exhibition Of Shanxi Chinese Shadow Puppet Plays A showcase of the ancient arts, which originated during the Han dynasty about 2,000 ago, spread as far as Europe during the Yuan dynasty, and is slowly approaching oblivion in modern times. 9am-5.30pm daily. Guangzhou Museum, Guangzhou Yue Xiu Park. 6 yuan. Inquiries: (86 20) 8354 5253. Until Apr 15 Morcheeba Laid-back lounge lotharios Morcheeba are touring China as part of a British Council-sponsored drive to promote talent in the region. Sadly, they won't be playing in Hong Kong. Wed, 8pm. Guangzhou Friendship Theatre. 100-180 yuan. Bookings and inquiries: (86 20) 8666 2743/8667 6482/8190 3355 or visit www.863ok.com SHANGHAI The World Trade Centre After September 11 A collection of American awardwinning photographer Joel Meyerowitz's photographs of the reconstruction works at the Twin Towers site in New York after the September 11, 2001, attacks. 1376 West Nanjing Rd. Shanghai Shanhcheng Zhongting. Until Thu Shanghai Acrobatics Defying gravity and the usual boundaries of what the human body is capable of, Shanghai Grand Theatre Acrobats are known for their unbelievable feats. Daily, 7.30pm, Odeum of the Shanghai Centre Theatre. 80-280 yuan. Inquiries: (86 21) 6372 3836. Until Mar 31 SHENZHEN Beyond The Culture: Model World Of Ren Rong Nanjing-born, Germany-based artist Ren Rong combines calligraphy, Chinese ancient cliff painting and paper-cutting to create 20 colourful contemporary artworks. 10am-6pm daily, closes tomorrow. Overseas Chinese Town. Inquiries: (86 755) 2660 4540 Morcheeba (See Guangzhou) Fri, 9.30pm. True Colour Theme Music Restaurant, Shenzhen. 60 yuan. HK bookings and inquiries: HMV Media (Hong Kong) Limited, tel: 2504 3669; Love Da Records, tel: 2264 1025 or visit www.britishcouncil.org.cn TAIPEI Streams Of Encounter Part exhibition, part electronic media performance, Streams of Encounter features a perspective from German and Taiwanese artists on how media are changing our perceptions. The Fine Arts Museum has built a reputation for pushing boundaries in the often sterile world of Taiwan contemporary art. Taipei Fine Arts Museum, 181 Chungshan North Rd, Section Three. Tues-Sun 9.30am-5.30pm, closed Mon. Price: NT$30 (HK$7). Ends next Sun Taipei Film Festival Melbourne, Australia and Kyoto, Japan, are the focus cities of this year's Taipei Film Festival. Younger cousin of the Golden Horse Film Festival, the TFF has a rotating city-centric theme. The Melbourne contingent features earlier works of renowned Hollywood directors. The Kyoto section features some notable works that give insight into the Japanese city. English/Japanese with English/Chinese subtitles. NT$150. Inquiries: www.ch5. tv/TIFF Until end of Mar REGIONAL BANGKOK A Mad Macbeth William Shakespeare's tragedy about the dangers of ambition has been transformed into an offbeat two-man show by British comedians David Bluestone and Lynnette McMorrugh. Fri and Sun 7.30pm. The Sheraton Grande, 250 Sukhumvit Rd (Skytrain: Asoke station). 700 baht (HK$130). Inquiries: (66 2) 653 0333 Being Oneself If the Atelier whetted your appetite for installation art, then try the National Gallery where Patyos Budhacharoen explores the Buddhist concept of destroying one's ego to achieve a special consciousness. Chao Fa Rd, Phra Nakom, 9am-4pm. Inquiries: (66 2) 282 2639. Until end of March SEOUL La Traviata The Seoul Arts Centre celebrates the 10th anniversary of its Opera House with a presentation of La Traviata. The Bucheon Philharmonic and the National Chorus of Korea combine to tell this tale of Violetta and her love, Alfredo. Until Fri, 7.30pm. 20,000-80,000 won (HK$130-HK$510). Opera House, Seoul Arts Centre. Inquiries: (82 2) 580 1300 or visit www.sac.or.kr/eng Blue The British boy band kick off their Asia Tour in South Korea. Hit songs include All Rise, This Temptation, One Love and Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word. Mar 20, 8pm. Olympic Park Weightlifting Stadium. 50,000-60,000 won. Inquiries: (82 2) 574 6882 Ungno Lee's Design Work, The Porcelain Of Sevres Ungno Lee, also known as Go-am, created the Oriental Painting Academy in Paris in 1964. However, he was extradited to Korea and imprisoned on charges of espionage, leaving behind a legacy of abstract painting with roots in Asian calligraphy. He also made designs for a French porcelain company, Sevres, examples of which are being shown for the first time in Korea. Ungno Lee Museum. Inquiries: (82 2) 3217 5672. Until Thur SINGAPORE Oliver! Based on Charles Dickens' story of a poor boy growing up on the streets of London, this much-loved musical boasts an 80-strong cast and orchestra, the largest production ever staged in Singapore. From Fri until Apr 5, 8pm, Sat and Sun at 2.30pm. Esplanade Theatre, S$20-S$130 (HK$90-HK$560). Inquiries: www.sistic . com.sg or Sistic outlets on (65) 6348 5555 Ken Ishii One of the few Asian DJs to have made a mark on the international dance scene, this Japanese turntablist showcases his techno talent at one of Singapore's hottest nightspots. Sat, S$15 before 9pm, S$23/S$28 after. Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim St. Inquiries: www.zoukclub.com.sg TOKYO Tokyo International Anime Fair 2003 This annual animated cartoon festival showcases Japanese animation and features talks from some of the top animation directors, with exhibitions, screenings of future shows and competitions to discover budding artists. Wed-Sun, 9.30am to 5.30pm at Tokyo Big Sight East Halls 2 and 3, Ariake 3-21-1, Koto-ku. Admission: 1,000/500 yen (HK$70/HK$35). Inquiries: (81 3) 5320 4786 or www.taf.metro.tokyo.jp Junko Moriya Orchestra Fans of big bands should not miss this one: a 16-piece jazz ensemble led by innovative pianist Junko Moriya and drawn from Tokyo's finest players with arrangements by Moriya herself. Along with numbers by Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus, Moriya adds a few of her own for a fresh and vital performance. Wed, 7.30pm. Tokyo TUC, Kanda. 4,500 yen. Inquiries: (81 3) 3866 8393 Urbtix: 2734 9009 Urbtix/CityLine credit-card booking: 2111 5999 Fringe: 2521 7251 CityLine: 2317 6666 TicketNet: 2312 9998 HK Ticketing: 3128 8288 For a complete listings service visit totallyhk.scmp.com.