Afternoon Series

Programme Cancellation Notice

The programme “Afternoon Series” to be held in August & September, 12:45pm have been cancelled. Thank you for your understanding.

Live performances to brighten your day

Taking place every Monday afternoon, “Afternoon Series” invites emerging local artists to curate and develop mini-concerts, dance, theatre, comedy and multi-disciplinary performances for the unique environment at Tai Kwun. Sitting in the heart of Central, Tai Kwun is perfectly located to offer a brief reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the week. Come and relax with your co-workers, friends and families all the while being inspired by the innovative ideas of the artists.

Jul to Sep 2020 Performances

Performances: 06.07, 24.08.2020

Harmonica always reminds us of the fondest moments in life. This tiny instrument brings back memories of our childhood, our first mouth organ, our first toy etc. Honoured to be back to Tai Kwun, RedBricks is pleased to return to the Afternoon Series with an ensemble of chromatic harmonica, double bass harmonica and chord harmonica. Through the musical journey of re-arranged folk music and themes, RedBricks wishes to return to their original self in the voices of different cultures and rhythms, inspiring all of you the importance of “being ourselves”.

06.07.2020 Concert I: Memories

Performed by RedBricks

24.08.2020 Concert II: Exploring

Performed by RedBricks

About the artists

The RedBricks is formed with five enthusiastic musicians from King’s College. They have been frequent winners in the World Harmonica Festival in Germany. However, winning trophies and awards is only the very start of their music journeys. They have performed as members of Hong Kong Harmonica Association in Shanghai Expo 2010, Singapore, Malaysia and Germany. In 2017, the RedBricks represented Hong Kong to perform in Bahrain, Middle East. In the same year, the group was entitled the 3rd runner up in World Harmonica Festival Trio Category.

In October 2018, RedBricks was invited by the Hong Kong Home Affairs Bureau to join the 1st China International Import Expo in Shanghai, showcasing Hong Kong harmonica music in the National Exhibition Area. During the tour to Shanghai, RedBricks also performed in the Hong Kong Dinner hosted by the Chief Executive Mrs. Carrie Lam, demonstrating harmonica music as the soft power of Hong Kong.

Other than that, Redbricks is actively performing in various commercial events such as the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens.

Performances: 13.07, 03.08, 07.09.2020

For the first appearance of cellist Kai-Hei Chor and pianist Alex Wong at Tai Kwun on 13 July, they will perform music from famous movies, including tunes by John William, Joe Hisaishi and Hollywood classics. On 3 August, they will revive a programme which has been presented at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, offering a new look at cello repertoire – interpreting Chinese folk tunes with a Western instrumental duo. Works include KangDing Ballade to the famous Erhu’s  Moon Reflected on Erquan Pond; and from classic Pastoral to contemporary Alfred Wong’s Night Poem. At the last concert on 7 September, the duo will take the audience onto a journey of dreams. The programme features Fauré’s Apres un Reve, Grieg’s Ein Traum and popular tunes such as Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

13.07.2020 Concert I: Film Music with Cello and Piano

Performed by Kai-Hei Chor (Cello) and Alex Wong (Piano)

03.08.2020 Concert II: East meets West: When the Cello Meets Chinese music

Performed by Kai-Hei Chor (Cello) and Alex Wong (Piano)

07.09.2020 Concert III: Ein Traum

Performed by Kai-Hei Chor (Cello) and Alex Wong (Piano)

About the artists

Currently a core member of the Hong Kong New Music Ensemble, Kai-Hei Chor is one of the most active Hong Kong cellists in his generation. Educated in the UK, His prizes include Schoenfeld International Competition, International Competition 'Giovanni Musicisti - Città di Treviso', Italy, Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund, and “Hong Kong Scholar” title conferred by the Hong Kong Government. As an orchestral cellist, he was the first ever principal cellist appointed from Hong Kong in the Royal College of Music Symphony Orchestra; and have performed with orchestras including London Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Sinfonietta etc.

Educated in Hong Kong and USA, Alexander Wong’s major mentors include Jeffie Leung, Dr. Mary Wu, Wong Kin Yu and Dr. Jean Barr. After his graduation, he participated in the Hawai’i Performing Arts Festival as a collaborative pianist in the Voice Program. He was then employed as a full-time Répétiteur at Musica Viva through Hong Kong Arts Development Council’s “Music Artistic Internship Scheme” (2015-2017).  Currently Alexander is an accompanist of different schools and ensembles; and serves as a part-time Teaching Assistant in the School of Humanities (Music) of the University of Hong Kong.

Kai Hei Chor (Cello)

Alexander Wong (Piano)

Performances: 20.07, 10.08, 31.08, 21.09 & 28.09.2020

Follow the bumpy-jumpy clowning jugglers to the "Circus Lab", where you will unveil a world of wonders and surprises! Curated by “Circus Box”, a local circus troupe offering a wide range of circus arts, these versatile performers will showcase some of the most challenging and rarely seen acts such as Cyr Wheel, plate-spinning and 6-foot-high unicycles. In addition to the diversified solo performances, the highlight will be a mix-and-match of all circus elements, where artists experiment and seek to re-define what circus art can be. This summer, let us celebrate the playful and innovative spirit of "Tai Kwun Circus Plays"!

20.07.2020 & 10.08.2020 Performance I & II: Dice God

An interactive circus juggling performance: By rolling the “Dice God”, the audience summona the God from the dice to randomly pick a performance. Local juggling artists will make use of a 2m unicycle, cyr wheel, magical crystal ball and more to create scenarios full of surprises and excitements. With the participations of the clowns and audience, a new trend and experience of circus performance in Hong Kong is born.

Performed by

Lai Yee － Contact ball, Cyr wheel, dragon staff

Dennis Law － Juggling Balls, Juggling Clubs

Lego Shum－ Uni-Cycle, Rolabola, Juggling Clubs

Jacky Lo － Clown

Betty Leung － Clown

31.08.2020 & 21.09.2020 Performance III & IV

Performed by

Grace Hoop － Hoop Dance

Zara Asa － Cyr Wheel

Wayne Lee － Plate Spinning

Jacky Lo － Clown

Betty Leung － Clown

28.09.2020 Performance V

Performed by

Jacky Lo － Clown

Betty Leung － Clown

About the artists

"Circus Box'' is dedicated to promoting Hong Kong's circus culture through bringing local performers together with a vision to create a brand-new audience experience. Through blending different forms of circus and performing arts in “Circus Lab”, the troupe aspires to sparknew interpretations of circus art.

Members come from a wide spectrum of performing arts backgrounds, including juggling, circus, clowning and mime. They have travelled around the world to learn and absorb different styles and techniques, incorporating these elements into local culture with the vision to develop a unique circus style for Hong Kong.

Head of Group: Kingson Ngai

Group Members: Grace Hoop, Betty Leung, Lai Yee

Artists: Grace Hoop, Lai Yee, Dennis Law, Lego Sham, Zara Asa, Wayne Lee, Betty Leong, Jacky Lo

Grace Hoop

A hoop dancer and an instructor, Grace Hoop was trained in Berlin from 2014 to 2016 and 2018 summer. She participated in numerous hoop conventions throughout Germany, where experiences include performing, choreographing and conducting workshops. Grace is now based in Hong Kong and she is passionate in stimulating the hoop culture. Recent projects include 《BAUHAUS Magic Flute》by Zuni Icosahedron, 《Circular Reflection - The Abstract Cosmos》 by Orleanlaiproject, 《Secret Journey, Stranger Than Paradise》by Yoshiko Chuma (Berlin), impromptu performance in Sónar and Clockenflap Music and Art Festivals.

In 2017, Grace received The Hoopie Awards – “Hooper of the Year Asia” by hooping.org.

Grace’s hoop dance is a form of free movement with hoop manipulation. It gives unlimited opportunities for discovering new moves, inspiring others, exploring the feeling of freedom with a tremendous amount of joy.

Lai Yee

A flow artist from Hong Kong. Variety of performances including contact juggling/LED performance and fire dance. Lai Yee was trained in numerous international flow arts festivals including Czech Republic, Germany, Nepal, Peru, Israel and Cambodia. As an experienced flow artist and traveller, his street and stage performances are covering Asia, Europe and South America. Recent performances include “Circusco Circo teatro” (Peru), “Clockenflap Music and Art Festival” (HK), “Seoul Bicycle Music Festival” (Korea), The festival d’Avignon (France) and “Edinburgh Festival Fringe” (UK).

Wayne Lee

A juggling tutor and performer. Wayne started juggling in 2008. Among the various props manipulations, Wayne mainly focuses on plate spinning. During his practicing journey, he delved into tricks inventions and his personal style development. From 2009 to 2018, Wayne received various awards in Hong Kong and overseas juggling competitions. He is passionate to popularise the juggling and plate spinning culture in Hong Kong.

Zara Asa

Zara Asa is a Cyr Wheel & Fire dance performance artist. He studied performing arts in Taiwan and has more than five years of performance experience. He has also participated in the performances of the two years Community Cultural Ambassador Scheme "KIBO's Journey of Rebirth", "GRAD IN MY DREAM!" and "Lumieres Hong Kong". He is committed to integrating and promoting performing arts in Hong Kong.

Dennis Law

A magician & juggler. He started learning magic from teenage. During his learning journey, He has had the opportunities to explore various kinds of performing arts. A love by accident, he fell for juggling and further his performance style with a mix of fantasy magic and juggling art.

Lego Shum

Lego Shum started his self-taught circus life in 2016 after meeting a solo fire artist from the Philippines. His self-taught fire arts include poi, dragon staff, fire eating and fire breathing. Later he also started performing juggling, Rolabola, 2 meter giraffe unicycle, juggling with stilts and etc. Lego Shum is also a musician, drummer and composer. His musical input adds extra layers and uniqueness to his circus performances. His is aspired to develop more circus-music shows.

Jacky Lo

In 2015, Jacky started clowning and created his clowning character “BuBuJak”. His unique and amusing character tours around Europe, Australia, Thailand, China, Taiwan and Macau. Jacky believes that from through the character “BuBuJak”, his performance will bring out the inner-child and happiness of everyone. As a full time actor, Jacky appears in numerous movies, televisions, advertisements and social media productions.

Betty Leong

One of the founders of “Super Clown”. Betty has been a clown actor in theme parks for many years and has developed her unique clown art. The art of clowning is filled with fantasy and absurdity.

Circus Box

Grace Hoop (Hoop Dance)

Lai Yee (Contact ball, Cyr Wheel, Dragon Staff)

Wayne Lee (Plate Spinning)

Zara Asa (Cyr Wheel)

Dennis Law (Juggling Balls, Juggling Clubs)

Lego Shum (Uni-Cycle, Rolabola, Juggling Clubs)

Jacky Lo (Clown)

Betty Leong (Clown)

Performances: 27.07 & 17.08.2020

NOVA Ensemble is pleased to return to Tai Kwun’s Afternoon Series, presenting two themed concerts – Concertante Music for Flute, featuring the ensemble’s flautist Angus Lee and a string quartet performing Vivaldi, Mozart and Pleyel’s works for the flute. In the second concert, continuing their Series of Two project, the programme will feature contemporary works written for double bass and strings duo, putting the sublime bass sound in the spotlight.

27.07.2020 Concert I: Concertante Music for Flute

Performed by Angus Lee (Flute), Sean Lai (Violin), Vivian Shen (Violin), Samuel Au (Guest Viola), Chak-yin Pun (Cello) & Crystal Tam (Double Bass)

17.08.2020 Concert II: Series of Two – Chamber Music with Bass

Performed by Sean Lai (Violin), Chak-yin Pun (Cello) & Crystal Tam (Double Bass)

About the artists

Formed in 2017, the Hongkong-based NOVA Ensemble is an expanding collection of the City’s leading young Classical musicians, dedicated to innovative (re)interpretations of established classics, while actively engaging with young composers and commissioning new works for the Ensemble.

Angus Lee (Flute)

Sean Lai (Violin & Viola)

Vivian Shen (Violin)

Samuel Au (Guest Viola)

Chak-yin Pun (Cello)

Crystal Tam (Double Bass)