The annual International Arts Carnival (IAC) is returning this summer with a series of enjoyable arts programmes for families. Organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the carnival will run from July 9 to August 15. Tickets will be available for sale from tomorrow (June 9) onwards.
The IAC was cancelled last year due to the pandemic and online programmes were offered instead. This year, the carnival has teamed up with local groups to present a variety of stage programmes including musicals, puppetry, drama, theatre for the young, experiential theatre, a multimedia concert and more. Films from around the world for children and youths will also be screened.
Actors' Family will open the festival with the touching original musical "Cinematic Memories on Train No. 5", which explores family ties. Teaming up with celebrated music director Chiu Tsang-hei, actors Harriet Yeung (Hatou) and Joe Wong will showcase their singing with live accompaniment by young musicians from the Inheritage Philharmonic onstage.
Another musical, "Arabian Dreams", will be performed by the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong. The work retells the story of the Arabian Nights, bringing together familiar characters such as Ali Baba, Aladdin and Sinbad the Sailor in a song-and-dance spectacular.
Fong Fong Projet d'Art's "Our Little Tram: DingDing" features an experiential theatre production on real tram No. 120 to help people experience how the iconic vehicle has served the city. In the live show "Songs of Our Children", presented by singer-songwriter Vicky Fung and lyricist Chow Yiu-fai of Every Life Is A Song, self-recorded voice clips of 3- to 12-year-olds will be transformed into songs accompanied by short music videos and multimedia displays to demonstrate the magic of song making and creativity.
The line-up also includes "When Lonely Meets Lucky", a heart-warming puppetry show produced by Free-To-Play that humorously reimagines Ernest Hemingway's novel "The Old Man and the Sea". Shakespeare4All's delightful show for the young "Open Wide So I Can Look Inside" shows the importance of dental care. Local author A Nong's short children's stories have been adapted into the original musical "The Heart of Growth", to be performed by Musical Trio, to show Hong Kong's treasures of humanity. The music and puppet theatre production "Butterfly, Better Fly" produced by Pure Box will take the audience to a picturesque realm of Chinese music and paintings with beautiful winged puppets. "The Gallants" by Class 7A Drama Group brings to life leading figures from Chinese classical literature.
Other attractive programmes will include:
* "BAUHAUS Magic Flute" by Zuni Icosahedron;
* "Magical Adventures of Baby Polar Bear and the 12 Zodiac Animals" by Hong Kong Dance Company;
* "Luck-quacka" by City Contemporary Dance Company; and
* International Children's and Youth Film Carnival 2021 by the Film Programmes Office.
The IAC will also feature online programmes including "PPT@Magic Adventure" by Jumbo Kids Theatre, "Sweetyland – Our Flavour Diaries" by Make Friends With Puppet, "The Other Wise Man" by Bel Canto Singers and music videos from "Songs of Our Children". Other extension activities include a talk, exhibitions and workshops.
Tickets will be available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) from tomorrow onwards. For credit card telephone bookings, please call 2111 5999, or use the mobile ticketing app "My URBITX".
For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2370 1044 or visit www.hkiac.gov.hk.
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