Tai Kwun Circus Plays 2021

CircusCracker Workshops

Tai Kwun Circus Plays

Ting-koo-ki Mad Skills Battle (Hong Kong x Taiwan)

Circus Camp for Professionals

PLI

CircusCracker Workshops

Only Bones v1.0

The ChristMice Cracker

Flotados

Date & Time

24 Dec 2021 - 2 Jan 2022 Refer to workshop schedule

Location

Site-wide

Price

Free of charge

Overview

From Christmas Eve to the New Year, a series of workshops echoing the theme of “Nutcracker” will be available to the public, free-of-charge. Participants will first enjoy the demonstration by the professional artists, before they learn and experience the crafts and tricks first-hand. Designed for families, the CircusCracker Workshops encompass crystal ball, Kendama, puppet-making and more. Join and challenge yourself this season to unleash the untapped potential within you!


Balloon Art Workshop

Kendama Workshop

Crystal Ball Workshop

Mask Creating Workshop

Little Mice・Big Challenge

Upcycling puppet performance and creation workshop

Balloon Art Workshop

When trying to save Princess Pirlipat, the kind-hearted Hans has turned into a Nutcracker by the Mouse Queen, and he had to crack hard nut shells in a heavy soldier hat until the spell was broken. Let’s give Nutcracker some help!

This Christmas, Yu, the renowned balloon art artist, will be back at Tai Kwun Circus Plays to lead everyone to the colourful world of balloons. Let’s follow Yu to create our own light and cool Nutcracker balloon hat. Afterwards, let’s dance with Cherrie Chow, our Ballerina Princess with our self-made balloon hats that have been created for Christmas!

Date: 24 - 27.12.2021
Time: 1pm - 2pm (24, 26.12.2021) ; 1pm - 2pm & 5pm - 6pm (25, 27.12.2021)
Venue: Prison Yard

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Produced by: Circus Box, Color Life Production
Curated by: Kingson Ngai, Lai Ying Kiu
Balloon Artist: Wong Ting Yu
Dancer and Choreographer: Chow Tsz Yi Cherrie
Artistic Director: Yuen Chak Sum, Sam
Costume Designer: Katie Tsz Sin Lau
Assistant Instructors: Choi Suk Ching, Lam Pui Hong, Chan Lin Hay, Lai Nga Wing, Lau Yuk Ming, Wong Cheuk Man

  • Recommended for all age 4 or above.
  • One person per quota regardless of age.
  • The workshop will be conducted in Cantonese.
  • Workshops require physical movements. Participants are advised to consider his/ her own physical conditions before enrolling.
  • Please wear comfortable clothing.
  • Registered participants shall sign in in-person 15 minutes before the workshop. Any unclaimed quota may be released to walk-in participants 5 minutes before the event starts. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Activities are subject to changes without prior notice. Tai Kwun reserves the right to make the final decision regarding the arrangements.

Kendama Workshop

Marching into Stahlbaum’s living room, the wicked Mouse King and his mouse army attacked Clara and her toys violently! The toys stood up to defend, but the mouse army was maleficent - Could the Nutcracker and the Candy Soldiers defeat the Mouse King to save Clara and other toys?

To prepare the Candy Soldiers for this important battle, Hong Kong Kendamaist Li Ho Cheung and his team HKDamaBro is coming to Tai Kwun to host a Kendama battle! Fellow brave Candy Soldiers, are you ready to level up your Kendama skills and combat with the Mouse King?

Date: 24 - 27.12.2021
Time: 2pm - 3pm & 4pm - 5pm (24, 27.12.2021) ; 4pm - 5pm (25, 26.12.2021)
Venue: Laundry Steps

Approximately 60 mins for each session
Kendama will be provided for each registrant

Register Now

Produced by: Circus Box, HKDamaBro
Curated by: Kingson Ngai, Lai Ying Kiu
Kendama Artist: Li Ho Cheung
Artistic Director: Yuen Chak Sum, Sam
Costume Design: Katie Tsz Sin Lau
Performers: Tam Wing Tat, Pun Ho Lam, Chau Pak Chun
Assistant Instructor: Wan Sum Venus Chan

  • Recommended for all age 4 or above.
  • One person per quota regardless of age.
  • The workshop will be conducted in Cantonese
  • Workshops require physical movements. Participants are advised to consider his/ her own physical conditions before enrolling.
  • Please wear comfortable clothing.
  • Registered participants shall sign in in-person 15 minutes before the workshop. Any unclaimed quota may be released to walk-in participants 5 minutes before the event starts. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Activities are subject to changes without prior notice. Tai Kwun reserves the righ t to make the final decision regarding the arrangements.

Crystal Ball Workshop

Upon Clara’s defeat over the Mouse King, the Nutcracker was transformed into a handsome Prince, and sparkling white Snowflake Fairies floated down merrily. Together with the fairies, the Nutcracker Prince and Clara entered into the fantastic Land of Sweets, where the Sugar Plum Fairy welcomed them to her grand celebration!

On Christmas Day, crystal ball artist Lai Yee will transform into the Godfather Drosselmeier, who makes use of his magical crystal ball to bring visitors into the Flow State. Accompanied by the Sugar Plum Fairy and her friends, visitors can learn some crystal ball isolation and balancing tricks, and even discover the art of dancing with the crystal ball while dreamy music by Tchaikovsky plays.

Date: 24 - 27.12.2021
Time: 3pm - 4pm & 5pm - 6pm (24, 26.12.2021) ; 3pm - 4pm (25, 27.12.2021)
Venue: Prison Yard

Approximately 60 mins for each session
Crystal ball will be provided for each registrant

Register Now

 

 

Produced by: Circus Box, Lai Yee
Curated by: Kingson Ngai, Lai Ying Kiu
Crystal Ball Artist: Lai Yee
Artistic Director: Yuen Chak Sum, Sam
Costume Designer: Katie Tsz Sin Lau
Performers: Jodie Yung, Zara Asa, Lyson Sze, Lai Ying Kiu

  • Recommended for all age 4 or above.
  • One person per quota regardless of age.
  • The workshop will be conducted in Cantonese
  • Workshops require physical movements. Participants are advised to consider his/ her own physical conditions before enrolling.
  • Please wear comfortable clothing.
  • Registered participants shall sign in in-person 15 minutes before the workshop. Any unclaimed quota may be released to walk-in participants 5 minutes before the event starts. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Activities are subject to changes without prior notice. Tai Kwun reserves the right to make the final decision regarding the arrangements.

Mask Creating Workshop

Come to Tai Kwun this Christmas, design and create your own performing mask, from design, sculpture, shape, measurement and alive. Investigate on your inner image and project it onto the art piece.

This 2-day mask-making workshop is designed for parents and kids to have chance together a collaborative and creative moment, to learn about each other and understand basic concepts of modeling paper-mache. The facilitator David Bensimhon has worked more than 10 years on masks for theatre and taught the art of mask-making to various audience. You can choose to create a half mask or full mask that reflects your personality as well as creativity!

Date: 31.12.2021 - 01.01.2022
Time: 2:30pm - 4:30pm  
Venue: F Hall Studio

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Produced by: Free-To-Play
Concept and Producer: Sheena Cheung
Tutor: David Bensimhon, Jovita Siu Ji Chin
Assistant to Tutor: Lai Hoi Ying

  • Participants must attend both workshops on 31.12.2021 and 01.01.2022.
  • Recommended for all age 4 or above.
  • One person per quota regardless of age.
  • The workshop will be conducted in Cantonese.
  • Workshops require physical movements. Participants are advised to consider his/ her own physical conditions before enrolling.

Little Mice・Big Challenge

Gather your kids. It’s time to transform children into the cute little mice from The Nutcracker. Trained by our mice general, our petit mice will learn slow-motion stage combat, acrobats and parkour, before becoming  mice soldiers after passing out the challenges!

The activity will be divided into two parts: the first,  an excerpt performance of The Christmice Cracker by the mice general. In the second, participants will be invited to the workshop and be trained as mice soldiers.

Performers and Instructors: Alan Cheng, Steve Ng, To Chi Sing

Date: 01 - 02.01.2022
Time: 12pm - 1pm; 2:45pm - 3:45pm; 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Venue: Laundry Steps

Register Now

  • Recommended for ages 5-10
  • One person per quota regardless of age.
  • The workshop will be conducted in Cantonese
  • The workshop will last for approximately 60 minutes
  • This workshop requires physical movements. Participants are advised to consider his / her own physical condition before enrolling
  • Please wear comfortable clothing
  • Registered participants shall sign in in-person 15 minutes before the workshop. Any unclaimed quota may be released to walk-in participants 5 minutes before the event. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Activities are subject to change without prior notice. Tai Kwun reserves the right to make the final decision regarding the arrangements

Upcycling Puppet Performance and Creation Workshop

Two Dumb Chefs and The Naughty Mouse King

Two Dumb Chefs. One is dumb, the other is more. Two of them work together in a kitchen to prepare yummy festival sweets. Everything is not that easy as they imagine. Nevertheless, the naughty Mouse king pass by, and …...

Naughty Mouse King leads you to the world of creativity. Stimulate by the upcycling materials, input your imagination.

Make the unseen to be seen.  With the simple touch from hands, making the upcycling puppet alive.

Date: 31.12.2021 - 02.01.2022
Time: 1pm – 2:15pm & 5:15pm – 6:30pm  
Venue: Prison Yard & F Hall Studio

 

 

Register Now

Produced by: Free-To-Play
Concept and Producer: Sheena Cheung
Director, Mask Maker and Music Designer: David Bensimhon
Performers: Wong On Ting, Chau Ka Lun
Workshop Facilitators: Wong On Ting, Jovita Siu Ji Chin, Chuk Yin Man
Assistant to Director: Lai Hoi Ying
Puppet makers: Ah Bu, Wong On Ting
Stage Assistant: Chuk Yin Man

  • Recommended for all age 4 or above.
  • One person per quota regardless of age.
  • The workshop will be conducted in Cantonese.
  • Workshops require physical movements. Participants are advised to consider his/ her own physical conditions before enrolling.
  • Please wear comfortable clothing.
  • Registered participants shall sign in in-person 15 minutes before the workshop. Any unclaimed quota may be released to walk-in participants 5 minutes before the event starts. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Activities are subject to changes without prior notice. Tai Kwun reserves the right to make the final decision regarding the arrangements

Biography

Ting Yu
Cherrie Chow
Li Ho Cheung
HKDamaBro
Lai Yee
Yuen Chak Sum, Sam
Lau Tsz Sin, Katie
Steve Ng
Alan Cheng
To Chi Sing
Sheena Cheung
David Bensimhon
Ada Wong
Chuk Yin Man

Balloon artist Ting Yu started working on balloon art in 2012 and has created various award-winning balloon artworks. Yu has been appointed by the internationally-renowned balloon company Qualatex as an instructor in Asia, and he was encouraged to further his creation and promote balloon arts to the general public.

Cherrie’s passion for performing arts budded very early. Having practiced ballet since 4 years old, she enjoys performing on the stage very much. In addition to Ballet,  she is also trained in various forms of dance, including contemporary dance, jazz-funk, etc.

Apart from dancing, she has developed her interest in aerial arts, particularly aerial silks and aerial straps. Cherrie participated in the Nutcracker production of Hong Kong Ballet in 2015 and has received the outstanding award at the HKAPA Gifted Youth Dance Program in 2015-16 and the gold medal at ballet solo division of Hong Kong (Asia) Dance Elite Competition in 2021. In parallel to her intensive dance and circus training, Cherrie is currently studying at Hong Kong Baptist University.

Hong Kong Kendama performer Li Ho Cheung is sponsored by the international Kendama brand Yumu Kendama. Certified as the 5th Dan by the Japan Kendama Association and the 6th Dan by the Taiwan Kendama Association, he has a rich teaching experience and professional qualifications in Kendama.

Apart from being awarded multiple times in local competitions, he is also the only artist representing Hong Kong to compete in the Kendama World Cup for 3 consecutive years (ranked 14th worldwide in 2014). Li is enthusiastic in promoting the art of Kendama. He has devoted much of his time in training the new generation of Kendamaists in Hong Kong.

Affiliated through the love for Kendama, several young Kendamaists are determined to fascinate the public with the skillful tricks and body movements of contemporary Kendama art. HKDamaBro hopes to introduce Kendama art to a wider audience in Hong Kong through performances and trainings.

Hong Kong performing artist Lai Yee specialises in flow arts, LED show and fire dance. Apart from contact juggling, he also possesses a variety of circus skills including cyr wheel, poi and dragon staff. He has conducted performances in Asia, Europe, Oceania and South America. Being an experienced travelling artist, he has taken part in flow arts festivals in Czech Republic, Germany, Israel, Australia, Nepal and Cambodia, and performed in the acclaimed Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland, The festival d’Avignon in France, Circusco Circo teatro in Peru, Clockenflap Music and Art Festival HK, Seoul Bicycle Music Festival and Sunway Iskandar World Class Circus Celebration in Malaysia.

As a founding member of “Flow Space Arts Studio", Lai Yee is devoted to creating performances and building the arts community, so as to promote flow arts in Hong Kong.

Sam Yuen graduated from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in 2021, majoring in Contemporary Dance. As a dancer, his recent participations include Deep Edge with E-Side Dance Company, Coven at the HKAPA School of Dance Summer Performances 2021, The Box 2.0, music video recording of In The Name Of Youth by local pop singer On Chan, etc. Apart from theatre and commercial dance performances, his multiple talents also bring him opportunities in drama, dance therapy, juggling and balloon twisting and decoration. He is also interested in choreography and has choreographed a 25-min piece as his final year independent study project.

Katie Lau is a costume and fashion designer. She is currently working freelance in design while pursuing her other fashion goals. She worked for different clothing brands and apparel companies in New York and Hong Kong and had a variety of design experience working with different types of fashion garments and costumes.

She studied Fashion Design at Parsons School of Design in New York as an undergrad and is a Master’s degree graduate in Costume Design from Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

A Capoeira professor and a performer, one of the co-founders of TS Crew and TS Studio, also the bassist of Hong Kong band "Wonderland". Actively involved and across different performing media and platform.

The capoeira background and training gave Ng a unique way to express himself with movements and flow.

Learning the beautiful art form capoeira at its origin Salvador-Bahia since 2001, Ng has been dedicated and passionated about it. 2008 graduated in GCB under supervision of Mestre Peixe. 2011 further study and develop the technique and knowledge in São Paulo with Mestre Girino, also attended the First International Capoeira forum hosted by Mestre Boneco in Rio de Janeiro. 2013 won the Hong Kong open capoeira competition. 2017 became the first and only Capoeira Professor in Hong Kong. The first Hong Kongese to achieve professor level in History. Steve held and participated numerous capoeira workshops over the world, which included : Brazil, USA, France, Australia, Spain, Mexico, Indonesia, Taiwan, Macau and China. Ng also involves in different forms of performing arts, including dance, movie and drama.

Cheng is a member of the Hong Kong Stuntman Association.

Cheng is a coach of Taekwondo and Martial Arts Tricking, and a freelance performer. He is a member of TS Crew and has been involved in different physical theatre and performing arts. He has been involved in different performances such as: Made in Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade in 2015-17, Ocean Park Halloween, Hacken Lee 30th Anniversary Concert, Starry and The Ravages of Time etc. In addition, he is also involved in different kinds of movies, TV and commercials as an action stuntman!

An action actor and core member of TS Crew. He has been involved in different movies, advertisements and microfilms. In recent years, he has started performing in drama and contemporary dance production, bringing different acrobatic elements into theatre performance.

Sheena Cheung was trained in The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts major in acting.

Cheung founded Free-to-Play Theatre in 2004 and the Company produces drama workshops and performances. Cheung loves experimental performances and explore forms and objects such as clown, masks, contemporary theatre performances etc. Cheung has also participated in photography and dubbing.

David is a director, actor, musician, composer, curator and drama tutor. He founded Théâtre de l’Ordinaire and Maxime Séchaud since 2007, which has now become a platform of contemporary mask performances and workshops, for more than fifteen artists and technicians to create, to perform, to learn and to teach. In 2015, Théâtre de l’Ordinaire was invited and supported by the Cultural Department of North region in France to perform in Festival Avignon 2015.

David actively explores culture and arts internationally. He participated in numerous meetings, exchanges and transnational creations in Europe and Asia. He has organized many cross- border projects to enhance confluence between artists all over the world. One of these projects “On the way to the front - A good reputation” was nominated by HKELD as Best non-English Group Award in 2015.

David is also the curator of Art’sens Galerie. The Art Gallery was found together with Christine Tzico-Stefaneco, to make an open space for merging visual arts and performing arts together.

David is invited by different companies from Taiwan, Japan, France, Belgium, Hong Kong, China, as director, drama tutor, musician, mask designer and instructor.

David is a creative, patient, positive and kind person. His personality and talents bring him a lot of good memories and creations with different companies all over the world.

Ada Wong graduated in Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Hons) major in Acting.

Recent works include “Standard Chartered Arts in the Park 2020”, Shadow Puppet Theater Thumbilina, Woola Jungle and A Puppet’s Grand Advanture by Make Friend with Puppet; The Furies Variation by Roof top productions, City of Darkness by Theatre ash and David Glass Ensemble, 1894 Hong Kong Plague by Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, etc.

Wong was nominated for Outstanding Actress in the Fifth Hong Kong Small Theater Awards for The Last Cross Country. She was awarded scholarships during the school and won the Outstanding Student Award in 2009-10.

Wong is now a freelance artist.

Chuk Yin Man graduated from the Academy of Visual Arts of Hong Kong Baptist University and completed a two-year Professional Physical Theatre Youth Training Programme by Tang Shu-wing Theatre Studio in 2018. He also completed The Circus Theatre Group’s Psychophysical course in 2021. He is a founding member of Feast on Waste Land, and is now a freelance actor, photographer, and graphic designer.