Octoberfest
18-10-14
October is turning out to be a fun-filled, art crazy month with two arts festivals kicking off this weekend. One is the Hong Kong People's Fringe Festival and the other is the New Vision Arts Festival.
The Hong Kong People's Fringe Festival is one of HKELD's favorite events of the year. We're happy to support this event which promotes independent theatre companies performing in alternative venues. This is the third year that the Fringe fest has happened and Julia Mok is the lady behind the magic.
HKPFF is a bit different than other festivals. All the shows are independently financed and run by the companies who produce them The Fringe Festival is a platform which all the artists use to promote themselves and the burgeoning art community of Hong Kong. There are theatre shows in English and Cantonese. Music events, poetry and even galleries showcasing visual art are part of the festival this year. Several artists are even hosting workshops during the festival, reminding us that we should never stop learning as performers.
Tickets for shows at the Fringe Festival are very affordable. 99% of the shows are 100HKD or less. The artists are dedicated to making work that is affordable to people from all financial backgrounds. The alternative venues which host the events are another reason the festival is so unique. A map is created at the beginning of the festival, letting you in on a bunch of secret gems you might not have known about.
You can see shows all over HK from Chai Wan to Fotan in bookstores, cafes, rehearsal spaces, blackbox theatres in factory spaces and bars. HKPFF is here to prove that art doesn't have to hang in a gallery or cost over 500HKD to be good. These are local artists trying to prove that Hong Kong is not a cultural desert. Their full calendar can be found on their website.
The New Vision Arts Festival holds a special place in HKELD's heart as it was one of the first things we reviewed. It kicks off today with a performance of Hofesh Shechter's Political Mother. NVAF is known for bringing some more controversial work to HK. This year they've helped produce a new Cantonese production of Hedda Gabler, directed by Adrian Noble, The Common Cold by HK Rep and have brought in award winning Japanese artist, Yukio Ninagawa. There are also many dance performances commisioned by award winning groups like the Cloud Gate Theatre and Tao Dance Group. We're looking forward to their fantastic calendar of shows. You can see all the performances on our calendar.
Tickets are available for the New Vision Arts Festival through URBTIX. Prices range anywhere from 150HKD to 500HKD. Many of the shows have a "No Late Comer" policy, so you must be punctual for these performances.
Recently, there's been a big movement to support local businesses in light of Occupy Central. It's the same with the art community. Go see a show produced by someone who lives here. Many of the artists who have worked tirelessly for Occupy HK will be performing in the festivals or working backstage.
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