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HKFP
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- HKFP
So far, so close: Acclaimed Hong Kong play puts diaspora and belonging back on centre stage in West Kowloon re-run
Having left Hong Kong during the Covid-19 pandemic, Ah Yuen is suddenly back in her home city because of her father's unexpected death. Her return goes against the current, as others from the city have started new lives in foreign countries – including a young scientist and his family, a weathered intellectual, and Ah Yuen's best friend since childhood. Each of them has had to adapt to living overseas and – for anyone who returns – to changes at home. 'If you're staying [in Hong Kong], you have to get this: Embrace the little joys,' Ah Yuen is told on stage by her estranged sister, who urges her to be prepared for the city's changing reality. The fictional character, played by 31-year-old Hong Kong actor Chung Yik-sau, is the protagonist of veteran playwright Chan Ping-chiu's award-winning theatre play, Flowing Warblers. It debuted last year at the Cultural Centre and is set for a re-run at the West Kowloon Cultural District this month. The three-hour-long play features five interconnected storylines of Hongkongers living in four locations across Europe as well as in Hong Kong. The play is fictional in nature, Chan said. However, it is based on real stories of Hongkongers who left the city in recent years. Chan made several trips to interview some of them in their newly adopted countries as the playwright attempted to capture the many facets of the city's diaspora. 'Very early on in my fieldwork, I realised I had to weave together multiple stories,' Chan, 65, said of how he conceived the screenplay of Flowing Warblers in 2022, when many of his friends departed the city. 'Any single story will likely be immersed in intense emotions and trapped in a specific situation. That's what I would like to avoid,' he told HKFP in Cantonese. Flowing Warblers tells poignant stories about who Chan described as 'ordinary people' – drawing upon the interviews he conducted with some 30 people in and outside Hong Kong. The play was soon sold out after its first show in June last year, with critics praising its storytelling and responsiveness to the collective experience of Hongkongers. But others – especially those who had lived overseas – criticised the play as failing to capture the reality of the Hong Kong diaspora. Chan said the criticism not only motivated him to improve the play for this year's re-run but also revealed the underlying rift between Hongkongers abroad and people at home. 'There is a subtle feeling of us failing to understand each other… Perhaps you won't ask them [overseas Hongkongers] how they are in their new homes, or their financial situation, things like that. Similarly, they won't ask you how Hong Kong is,' he said. 'Because, fundamentally, the two people have made very different choices,' he added. 'This conflict cannot be easily resolved by a single play… What I want to do is to tap into it.' 'Far from Hong Kong' Hong Kong saw a major exodus during the Covid pandemic, with official data showing a net outflow of about 123,000 residents in 2020 and 2021. It is believed the exodus was partly propelled by the city's political changes following the pro-democracy protests and unrest in 2019 and Beijing's imposition of a national security law in 2020 to quell dissent. Many Hongkongers went to the United Kingdom, which ruled Hong Kong as a colony for over 150 years until 1997. As of March this year, 163,400 people from Hong Kong who hold a British National (Overseas), or BNO, passport have arrived in the UK since London started accepting applications in 2021, according to the UK's Home Office. The country was Chan's first stop on his field trip. He spent a week in London in 2022, meeting friends who had moved there. Chan went to the UK again in 2023, while also visiting Berlin on the same trip. Six months later, he flew to Girona, Spain, for another round of interviews with overseas Hongkongers. He finished the first draft of the script in early 2024. Chan made a conscious decision to leave out other popular migration destinations for Hongkongers, such as Canada and Taiwan. 'If I have to cover every destination, I am afraid it will give the impression that I am making a documentary drama,' he said. He also opted to exclude people who left Hong Kong for explicit political reasons, saying his play may not be capable of addressing their situation and emotions. 'My goal is not to convey any powerful message about our society, it's not like that. I want to go back to the basics of people's lives, therefore, I choose to talk to ordinary individuals,' he added. The most recent exodus has not been the same as that in the 1990s, when a large group of Hongkongers left the city in fear of the impending handover to Chinese rule, Chan said. 'The previous exodus was more stable… it was common for people to settle down in the new country and come back to Hong Kong, to visit family or things like that,' he said. 'But this time, a lot more people, who are in their youth or prime, left knowing they will not come back as easily even if they have the chance,' he added. A question that Chan asked overseas Hongkongers in his early interviews was: 'How far from Hong Kong do you think you are now?' 'I remember most of them gave me the impression that they feel far from Hong Kong,' he said, adding that he met many in the diaspora leading lives in flux due to migration. 'Reality check' Chung, the actor who plays the protagonist Ah Yuen in Flowing Warblers, was also Chan's interviewee. She graduated with a degree in Chinese literature in Hong Kong before moving to the UK to study drama in 2016. Much like her character Ah Yuen, Chung returned to Hong Kong towards the end of the pandemic, just as many others from the city were leaving. Prior to her return in early 2023, she had not visited Hong Kong for more than three years. She said that, upon her return, she had to adapt to changes at home following the 2019 protests and the pandemic, despite having learned about the events in the news. 'I have received a lot of information through the internet, like how the government handled the pandemic and people's reactions and their moods. But knowing what happened is one thing, actually living it is another thing,' she told HKFP in Cantonese. It created a 'delay' in understanding Hong Kong's changes compared with her friends at home. 'This delay… is really uncomfortable, because you see yourself as part of the community,' she said. That experience was akin to a 'reality check,' Chung said, citing Ah Yuen's line in the script. 'When [Ah Yuen] returned, she had to observe what was happening in Hong Kong,' Chung said. 'From my reading of the character, she felt powerless to react when the reality hit her.' Chan, the playwright, wanted to capture the stark conflict between people who stay and those who leave. He created the character of Taai-co, played by actor Caroline Chan, who left Hong Kong in hopes of reuniting with Ah Yuen in Europe. But Taai-co was left alone on a foreign continent because of Ah Yuen's return to Hong Kong. A freedom-loving spirit, Taai-co went on the journey alone, but slowly realised her roots as a Hongkonger. The two best friends appear to represent the two groups of Hongkongers – those leaving and those staying. Ah Yuen and Taai-co 'cannot be easily separated, but they also cannot candidly communicate, as both of them are carrying intense emotions,' the playwright said. Flowing Warblers 2.0 The five-night performance of Flowing Warblers last year sparked a rare debate in Hong Kong about the recent exodus and the city's diaspora. In a widely discussed review, playwright Yan Pat-to opined that Flowing Warblers had failed to capture the reality of Hong Kong's diaspora, but also pointed to a mutual misunderstanding among people as the root cause of such failure. 'The people staying in Hong Kong cannot imagine the predicament of those who have left. Likewise… those who have left appeared equally incapable of understanding the situation of those who stayed,' Yan wrote in the Chinese-language review. Asked about this mutual misunderstanding, Chan said it is inevitable that any artistic work cannot represent the full range of human experience. What he wanted to achieve, he said, was to provide the audience with an opportunity to see things differently. 'I think my strategy to write about different characters and their stances is to allow the audience a shift in perspectives, subconsciously,' he said. For the re-run this month, with the play named Flowing Warbler 2.0, Chan and his crew have incorporated what they found missing in the play last year, enriching the details of each storyline. He also hoped the West Kowloon performance, which will open on July 12 and run for seven nights, could spark further interest in the Hong Kong diaspora. It was a pity that last year's debate was short-lived, he said, adding there have been fewer outlets for people to engage in the discussion. Reflecting on Hong Kong's current creative environment, Chan acknowledges there has been uncertainty about 'taboos,' and that playwrights and artists alike have diverted their energy to writing about matters 'skilfully.' 'Frankly speaking, a lot of things could be banned instantly nowadays. But I think there should be a devotion to pushing the boundary and to continuing writing about matters, especially those important to our society,' he said.
Hamilton Spectator
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Culture and community shine at Woodland celebration
Residents and out-of-town visitors alike attended the Woodland Cultural Centre's National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration on Saturday, June 21, 2025. Heather George, Executive Director of the Woodland Cultural Centre, said she was happy to see the community come together to celebrate the day. 'It's been so fantastic to see the turnout and to see so many community members from Six Nations and Brantford coming out, meeting each other in this space and getting to share in our culture,' she said. 'Our most favourite thing to do here at Woodland is to bring people together and do it in these really beautiful ways, so it's just been an amazing day.' Throughout the duration of the free event, guests of all ages had the opportunity to enjoy several musical performances from artists like David Moses, James Wilson and DJ MossKing, as well as a children's storytelling session with Arihhonni David. Over in the craft tent, Woodland's education department set up various creative workshops where visitors like Julien Greene and Callum Clarke, could try their hand at painting with watercolour, or crafting their own pottery, drums and rattles. Many guests also took the opportunity to head over to an open field to partake in a lacrosse demonstration with Kedoh Hill, or shop from the many vendor booths set up around the grounds. From hand-beaded jewellery to captivating pieces of art, ribbon skirts and even mouth-watering foods and drinks, there were plenty of ways to support the artists and small business owners on site. 'I think today is a really good opportunity, especially for non-Indigenous people to learn about the culture and the heritage. It's fantastic because, often the programming that happens on National Indigenous Peoples Day kind of surrounds the art space and so, it's a lot of fun, it's really inclusive and everybody gets a chance to participate,' said George. 'I think it's also a really good entry point for people who are trying to learn more about things like treaties or land rights, but this is kind of the fun, soft entrance into some of those harder topics. It's just such a great day for people to engage in this programming, and to continue to build those opportunities for people to learn.' On top of all of the activities happening outdoors, visitors also had the chance to step inside for a gallery tour with Woodland's guest Curator, Alex Jacobs-Blum, for the public opening of Indigenous Art 2025: 50th Annual Juried Exhibition. Indigenous Art was first launched back in 1975 and is now the longest-running annual multimedia Indigenous art exhibition in the country. This year's show is featured across all three of Woodland's gallery spaces and will run until Tuesday, September 30, 2025. Harmony Sabourin and Daylen Hill were just a couple of the guests viewing the gallery's new display. 'It's all just so beautiful,' said Sabourin. 'I really love art and so, it's been really inspiring to see all of these works, especially the beadwork on canvas… it's just so amazing to me.' The two were more than happy to share a few of the pieces that caught their attention including Jessica Somers' 'Morning Dance,' Janice Toulouse's 'Abiinoojiiyag Jiibi Native Children's Hidden Bones' and Emily Kewageshig's 'Walk Gently.' For those who couldn't make it out on the day, George said that she encouraged people to stop by Woodland and check out the gallery, especially now that the centre's new hours are Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Kimberly De Jong's reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CTV News
03-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Danish Canadian Club reopens Mermaid Inn restaurant in new location
The Danish Canadian Club was a fixture on 11 Avenue S.W. in Calgary for decades, but has since relocated. The Danish Canadian Club is set to reopen after moving to a new location. The organization had been in a building in the 600 block of 11 Avenue S.W. since 1964 – more than 60 years – but the decision was made to move once the building began to near the end of its lifespan. On Wednesday, the club will reopen its Mermaid Inn restaurant at its new location inside the Austrian Canadian Cultural Centre at 3112 11 St. N.E. 'We look forward with high expectations and excitement to creating new memories at our new location for the next 60 years,' reads a post on the club's website. The Mermaid Inn will reopen at 11 a.m. on June 4. The former site of the Danish Canadian Club will eventually be demolished to make way for a new condominium complex.
Kuwait Times
03-06-2025
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Outgoing Chinese envoy praises growth in China-Kuwait ties
KUWAIT: The Chinese embassy in Kuwait hosted a farewell reception on Monday in honor of the outgoing Chinese Ambassador. During his speech, Chinese Ambassador to Kuwait Zhang Jianwei expressed his deep appreciation to Kuwaiti leadership, officials, and people as he concluded his diplomatic mission after three years of service, highlighting the remarkable development in China-Kuwait relations and the warmth of the Kuwaiti society. Ambassador Jianwei shared that his arrival in Kuwait on May 22, 2022, marked the beginning of a significant and unforgettable chapter in his diplomatic career. 'Over the past three years, I had the pleasure of witnessing Kuwait's remarkable journey toward progress under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The New Kuwait 2035 Vision has achieved tremendous success across multiple sectors, elevating Kuwait's regional and international standing,' he said. Regarding Kuwait's cultural richness, he said: 'From the majestic Grand Mosque to the vibrant Souq Al-Mubarakiya, from traditional Sadu weaving to modern architectural marvels like Al Hamra Tower and the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre, the blend of heritage and modernity left a deep impression on me.' The Ambassador highlighted key accomplishments during his term, adding that there were two meetings between Chinese President Xi Jinping and HH the Amir Sheikh Meshal that fostered strategic alignment. On economic cooperation, he mentioned that China remained Kuwait's largest trading partner for 10 consecutive years, explaining: 'Substantial progress was achieved in landmark ventures such as Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port and renewable energy initiatives.' He noted that the first Chinese Cultural Center in the Gulf was established in Kuwait during his tenure, and exchanges among students, academics, media and youth increased. The ambassador also welcomed the recent Chinese decision to grant visa exemptions to Kuwaiti passport holders, saying: 'We warmly welcome more Kuwaiti friends to explore China.' Concluding his remarks, the Chinese Ambassador affirmed his confidence in the bright future of China-Kuwait relations and pledged to continue promoting this enduring friendship wherever he goes.
CNA
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - Reunion 3.0 – a one-day concert featuring a rich tapestry of heritage tunes
CNA938 Rewind Play In 'Culture Club', Melanie Oliveiro speaks with the key people involved Reunion 3.0, part of the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre's Cultural Extravaganza 2025 festival. Reunion 3.0 is a one-day concert on 31 May performed by Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra Alumni. Conductor & curator Dr Lien Boon Hua will describe how it'll embrace a diverse repertoire of music – from the cross-cultural Jewel of Srivijaya to modern-day 'Ghibli's Delivery Service' and more. Benjamin Boo, percussion soloist for Reunion 3.0, will talk about the different instruments he'll play and what makes Reunion 3.0 truly unique.
