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Summer is the time for the International Arts Carnival, and the International Arts Carnival is for summer.
Organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the annual summer arts festival will run from July 9 to August 15 and will feature over 370 events for family enjoyment.
In this year's carnival, 10 performing groups from the UK, Spain, Canada, Australia, Russia, France and Japan, along with 42 local groups, will take part in ballet, multi-media theatre, visual theatre, music, physical comedy, musical, puppetry, drama and film.
Kicking off the festival will be "Peter Pan" by the Northern Ballet Theatre from the UK, featuring the magical adventures of Peter Pan in a splendid blend of classical ballet, wonderful flying feats, dazzling stage design and an enchanting original score. The ballet spectacular of the classic tale is a must-see festival highlight.
In addition to the opening programme, the other four main series of the carnival are: "ABC, Come and See", "HeARTS Linked", "Hong Kong ¡ª An Infinite City" and "New Generation Series".
Suitable for children as young as three years old, the ABC Come and See Series will offer two joyful performances: visual theatre "Ping" by Titeres de Maria Parrato from Spain, and multi-media theatre "Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny" by Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia from Canada.
To show the fun side of arts to families, the carnival's HeARTS Linked will host a series of performances, such as multi-media puppet theatre "The Lovable Scavenger" by Make Friends With Puppet; large-scale puppet theatre "Gulliver" by The Moscow State Puppets Theatre named after Sergei Obraztsov, from Russia; physical comedies "Restaurant tu Three" by extres! from Spain and "Tomas Kubinek ¡ª Certified Lunatic and Master of the Impossible" from Canada; puppet theatre "Check Out!" by Polyglot Theatre from Australia; music programme "Brocante Sonore: The Mechanicians" by Zic Zazou from France; educational concert "Story of Mozart" by Hong Kong Sinfonietta; multi-media music theatre "The Magic Flute" by Zuni Icosahedron; Hong Kong Youth Music Camp Concerts 2010 and International Children's Film Carnival 2010.
In support of Expo 2010 Shanghai, this year's carnival will have a special series entitled Hong Kong ¡ª An Infinite City, featuring three programmes centred around the themes of creativity, connectivity and vibrance. They are: musical "Alice and the Little Golden Book" by Hong Kong 3 Arts Musical Institute; multi-media theatre "The Fuzzy Family" by Gay Singers x Project on Earth Creative Communication Company Limited and pop concert "Gen S@HK21C" by Pop Culture Creations.
Exciting programmes for youth under the New Generation Series are: pop concert "Gen S@HK21C" by Pop Culture Creations (which is also part of the Hong Kong Week programme for Expo 2010 Shanghai); youth theatre "The Young Hunger Artist k" by On & On Theatre Workshop; youth fusion dance theatre "Lost n' Found" by Unlock Dancing Plaza.
Apart from performances, there will be extension activities such as an outdoor carnival "Flight of Imagination", workshops, foyer demonstrations, exhibitions and cultural tours.
This year's carnival also includes the notable Conference on Children's Theatre Arts in Asia (Hong Kong£®2010), co-presented by the International Association of Theatre Critics (Hong Kong) and Hong Kong Theatre Works Limited.
Tickets priced from $40 to $360 are available at URBTIX outlets from tomorrow (May 14). Half-price tickets are available for full-time students, senior citizens aged 60 and above, people with disabilities and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. Booking discounts of up to 20% are available for full-price performing arts/film programmes.
Programme guides are available at URBTIX outlets or at the Carnival website www.hkiac.gov.hk .
For programme enquiries, call 2370 1044. Internet bookings can be made at www.urbtix.hk. Credit card telephone bookings can be made on 2111 5999 and telephone reservations (from May 15) on 2734 9009.
Ends/Thursday, May 13, 2010
Issued at HKT 18:05
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