Hong Kong Arts Festival 2018 advance booking open: highlights for early birds
Multi-award-winning play The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, American Ballet Theatre, star classical violinist Vadim Repin, and the Welsh National Opera among performers and shows likely to attract most interest
Multi-award-winning play The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, the American Ballet Theatre and classical music’s star couple – violinist Vadim Repin and ballerina Svetlana Zakharova – are among the highlights of next year’s Hong Kong Arts Festival, advance booking for which opens today.
Other noteworthy performers in the annual cultural jamboree include the Welsh National Opera, trumpeter Chris Botti, the Grammy-winning vocal ensemble Vox Clamantis and Ballet Zurich. Among Hong Kong performers, theatre veteran Fredric Mao Chun-fai will take a new approach to staging Cantonese classic Pavilion of a Hundred Flowers. Advance bookings starts October 11.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, adapted from the bestselling novel by British writer Mark Haddon, tells how autistic 15-year-old Christopher Boone investigates the death of his neighbour’s dog. Since its debut, the play has wowed global audiences with its dazzling, hi-tech set designs and spectacular storytelling about a boy genius with behavioural issues.
“We have been in talks with [Britain’s] National Theatre for over two years about this special play,” says So Kwok-wan, the festival’s associate programme director. “It’s a combination of good stage setting and heart-warming story.”
