Chairman’s Message
A warm welcome to the 54th Hong Kong Arts Festival. As a leading international performing arts event, the Festival continues to uphold its mission of enriching our city’s cultural life and promoting the best of the performing arts to different sectors of our community. This year, the Festival brings to Hong Kong more than 1,100 distinguished local and international artists from a wide range of artistic disciplines in over 180 performances of more than 45 programmes, as well as about 300 “PLUS”, outreach and education events.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the HKSAR Government, acting through the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, for its annual subvention and matching grant. My heartfelt thanks also go out to The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, our corporate sponsors, charitable foundations and donors for their generous support. Their invaluable contributions empower us to actively advance the community through the performing arts.
My genuine appreciation goes to all our internationally renowned and most talented artists for their creativity and outstanding performances on stage. Their dedication profoundly motivates us to continue showcasing exceptional productions, commissioning new works and nurturing local talent. I am also deeply grateful to the HKAF team for its commitment and efforts to bring this Festival to life.
Finally, I extend my warmest thanks to all audience members. We truly hope you enjoy this artistic journey and discover moments of delight, resonance and inspiration throughout the programmes being presented this year.
Lo Kingman C hairman Hong Kong Arts Festival
The 54th Hong Kong Arts Festival once again brings together great masters and outstanding artists, presenting more than 180 performances across music, dance, theatre, opera, Chinese opera, arts-tech and interdisciplinary creations—showcasing the exceptional craft of leading local and international talent.
One of this year’s themes is an exploration of “Courage and Peace”. At a time when the world is troubled by war, displacement, economic downturns and other hardships, artists respond from their own distinctive perspectives and in their own languages on stage, reminding us of the need to be resilient and hopeful.
Some works in this year’s Festival adopt a minimalistic theatrical approach, enabling us to transcend the constraints of geography and resources. We also continue to embrace arts-tech, using mixed-reality technologies to open up new performance possibilities.
As always, the Festival presents more than 300 outreach and education activities. Our PLUS events feature a curated series of talks, masterclasses, backstage tours and guided cultural walks. Our comprehensive education initiatives tailored for primary, secondary and tertiary students are aimed at enabling students to gain a more indepth understanding and appreciation of the works we present.
I sincerely thank you for joining us at this performance, and we hope that you find joy and resonance in the experience.
Flora Yu Executive Director Hong Kong Arts Festival
The Hong Kong Arts Festival is made possible with the funding support of:
Creative & Production Team
Concept & Creation
Alexander Devriendt
Karolien De Bleser
Samir Veen
Leonore Spee
Charlotte De Bruyne
Design
Nick Mattan
Edouard Devriendt
Photography
Ans Brys
Joëlle Desmet
Production Team
Lynn Van den Bergh
Leda Decleyre
Willie-Marie Hermans
Hannes Pieters
Production Ontroerend Goed
With the support of the Flemish Community, the city of Ghent, the Tax Shelter measures of the Belgian federal government & Cronos Invest
Production Manager
Fan Ho-yin
Production Assistant
Leung Ho-yee
Hong Kong version produced by Hong Kong Arts Festival
About Ontroerend Goed
© Eva Vermandel
Ontroerend Goed is a Belgian performance group that creates self-devised theatre grounded in the present, inviting audiences to participate as well as observe. Known for unpredictable content and form, the company crafts immersive experiences that blur the line between reality and the theatre, turning spectators into active participants and exploring how we position ourselves in the world.
The company first gained international attention in 2007 with The Smile Off Your Face, a one-on-one piece in which audience members are tied to a wheelchair and blindfolded. Its 2008 hit Once and For All We’re Gonna Tell YouWhoWeAreSoShutUpandListen celebrated raw teenage energy on stage. Since then, Ontroerend Goed has won numerous European awards and has presented in New York, Sydney and London to critical acclaim.
Ontroerend Goed tours globally and creates multilingual remakes of its productions, with versions in Russian, French, Putonghua, Cantonese, Kazakh and more. Led by Artistic Director Alexander Devriendt, the collective emphasises ownership by every contributor—from actors to designers and conceptual thinkers—believing that every idea deserves its own artistic expression.
Other key members include Charlotte De Bruyne, Karolien De Bleser, Aurélie Lannoy, Leonore Spee, Samir Veen, Remi Cosijn, Wim Smet, Hannes Pieters, Luna Boone, Justine Boutens and Beth Thyrion.
Concept & Creation
Alexander
Devriendt
© Sarah Eechaut
Alexander Devriendt (born 1977) is
the Artistic Director and one of the founders of Belgian theatre performance group Ontroerend Goed. His past work includes the creation of the personal theatre trilogy (TheSmileOffYourFace, Internal and A Game of You) and the celebrated teenage play Once and For All We’re Gonna Tell You Who We Are SoShutUpandListen. His most recent productions are £¥€$ Funeral Are we not drawn onward to new erA and ThanksforBeingHere. His performances have received several international awards and are performed all over the world, both in their original form and in remakes. Devriendt has been teaching masterclasses in drama at the Drama Department of the Conservatorium Antwerpen, Toneelacademie Maastricht and the Zurich University of the Arts.
Concept & Creation
Karolien De Bleser
© Thomas Dhanens
Karolien De Bleser (born 1980) graduated as an actor from the Royal Institute for Theatre, Cinema & Sound in Brussels in 2004 and went on to get another degree in Theatre Sciences. She worked for different companies, including Theater Zuidpool, and is part of the artistic core of Ontroerend Goed, where she has been working and co-creating since 2006. De Bleser is one of the founding members of compagnie barbarie, where she has been creating, playing and directing new work for more than 15 years now. She also mentors young creators as a coach or director on numerous projects.
Concept & Creation
Samir Veen
© Hetty de Kruijf
Samir Veen started acting at a young age and has participated in more than 40 film and television productions. He graduated from the Academy of Performing Arts in Maastricht in 2016, and has since been acting and writing for a broad range of theatres and festivals throughout the Netherlands and Belgium. He worked on several Ontroerend Goed productions, such as A Game of You £¥€$ and T.M. before he joined the artistic core in early 2023. Veen visited Hong Kong twice to direct a remake of £¥€$ for the Hong Kong Arts Festival in 2019.
Concept & Creation
Leonore Spee
Leonore Spee (born 1994) is a theatre maker, musician and writer. Together with Sascha Bornkamp, she founded Teletext, which creates music and theatre, develops audio tours, and initiates literary projects that combine their love for language, history and electropop. In 2024, Teletext published TheNewAntwerpSongbook, a contemporary edition of the Antwerp Songbook from 1544. Spee is a lecturer at the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp. Since 2023, she has been part of the artistic core of Ontroerend Goed. After £¥€$ Are we not drawn onward to new erA T.M. and ThanksforBeingHere Spee was involved in the creation of Handle with Care and SUMMIT Concept & Creation Charlotte De Bruyne
Charlotte De Bruyne (born 1990)
started acting when she was 12 at the Kopergietery youth theatre company in her home town of Ghent, Belgium. This is where she met the internationally acclaimed theatre company Ontroerend Goed, where she is now a core member. She made her debut on screen with LittleBlackSpiders by Patrice Toye. Other films and series include Flying Home Achter De Wolken and The Twelve. She worked with the Dardenne brothers on Tori & Locita, played a leading role in Veerle Baetens' film Het Smelt and stars in the television series Juliet. De Bruyne has been involved in various productions by Ontroerend Goed, most recently FightNight Funeral ThanksforBeingHere Handle with Care and SUMMIT
Co-Production List
NTGent, Ghent
Perpodium, Antwerp
Stadttheater Schaffhausen
Melbourne Fringe Festival
Theatre Royal Plymouth
Take Me Somewhere, Glasgow
CCAM/Scène Nationale de Vandoeuvre
International Documentary Film Festival
Amsterdam
De Brakke Grond, Amsterdam
Theatre YOUNG, Shanghai
Hexagone Scène Nationale, Meylan
Biennale Némo MAIF Social Club, Paris
La Comédie de Clermont-Ferrand
Lowry, Manchester
Scène Nationale Carré-Colonnes, St. Médard
Sapienza Centro per la Ricerca e l'Espressione
Artistica Nuovo Teatro Ateneo, Roma
Festival International des Arts de Bordeaux
Theater RAMPE, Stuttgart
The Zoom Arts Center, Seoul
Croatian National Theatre, Zagreb
Hong Kong Arts Festival
Cambridge Junction
Théâtre La Mouche, Saint-Genis-Laval
Gothenburg English Studio Theatre
About the Hong Kong Arts Festival

Launched in 1973, the Hong Kong Arts Festival is a major international arts festival committed to enriching the cultural life of the city. In February and March every year, the Festival presents leading local and international artists in all genres of the performing arts, placing equal importance on great traditions and contemporary creations. The Festival also commissions and produces work in Cantonese opera, theatre, music, chamber opera and contemporary dance by Hong Kong’s creative talent and emerging artists; many of these works have had successful subsequent runs in Hong Kong and overseas. The Festival also presents “PLUS” and educational activities that bring a diverse range of arts experiences to the community as well as tertiary, secondary and primary school students. In addition, through the “No Limits” project co-presented with The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the Festival strives to create an inclusive space for people with different abilities to share the joys of the arts together.
The HKAF is a non-profit organisation . The total estimated income for FY2025 / 26 (including the 54th Hong Kong Arts Festival and 2026 “No Limits”) is approximately HK$159 million. Current Government annual baseline funding accounts for around 12% of the Festival's total income. Around 24% of the Festival’s income needs to come from the box office, and around 44% from sponsorship and donations made by corporations, individuals and charitable foundations. The remaining 20% is expected to come from other revenue sources including the Government’s matching grant scheme, which matches income generated through private sector sponsorship and donations.
Full Organisational Profile: https://www.hk.artsfestival.org/en/ about-us/index.html?
ADDRESS Room 1205, 12/F, 2 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
TEL (852)2824 3555 FAX (852)2824 3798、(852)2824 3722
EMAIL afgen@hkaf.org
PROGRAMME ENQUIRY HOTLINE (852)2824 2430
PATRON
HONORARY LIFE
PRESIDENT
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Chairman
Vice-Chairman
Honorary
Members
Treasurer
The Hon. John KC Lee, GBM SBS PDSM PMSM
The Hon. Sir Run Run Shaw, GBM CBE (1907-2014)
Prof. Lo Kingman, SBS MBE JP
Mr Sebastian Shiu-wai Man
Mr Colin Farrell
Ms Joanna Hotung
Ms Leonie Ki, GBS SBS JP
Sir Lam Kin Chung, KCR
Mr Anthony Lau
Ms Kristine Li
Mr Ma, Ching Cheng
Mr Hugh Simon
Mr Tam Wingpong, SBS
Dr Yan Lan
Mr Sunny Yeung
PROGRAMME COMMITTEE
Chairman
Members
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Chairman
Members
Mr Tam Wingpong, SBS
Prof. Giorgio Biancorosso
Mr Edmond Huang
Mr Peter C L Lo
Prof. Fredric Mao, BBS
Mr Joseph Seelig, OBE
Prof. Jue Yao, SBS JP
Mr Colin Farrell
Ms Margaret Cheng, JP
Mr Nelson Leong
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Chairperson
Vice-Chairperson
Members
ADVISORS
Dr Yan Lan
Ms Catherine Leung
Mr Carey Cheung
Ms Ophelia Fung
Ms Samanta Sum-yee Pong
Mrs Helen Lin Sun
Ms Yi Wen
The Hon. Ronald Arculli, GBM CVO GBS OBE JP
Mr Martin Barrow, GBS CBE
Mr Victor Cha
Dr John CC Chan, GBS JP
Dr Darwin Chen, SBS ISO
Mr Angus H Forsyth
The Hon. Charles YK Lee, GBM GBS OBE JP
Mrs Mona Leong, SBS BBS MBE JP
Dr The Hon. Sir David KP Li, GBM GBS OBE JPP
Ms Gabriela Kennedy
HONORARY
SOLICITOR Mayer Brown Hong Kong LLP
AUDITOR PricewaterhouseCoopers + Honorary Programme Advisor
STAFF
Executive Director Flora Yu
Assistant to Executive Director Connie Ho
PROGRAMME Programme Directors Grace Lang, So Kwok-wan
Associate Programme Director Kenneth Lee
Senior Programme Managers Shirley So, Janet Yau*
Programme Managers Cathy Cheng*, Sophie Liao*, Katie Ma*, Neva Wong*
Project Manager Li Long-hin*
Programme Coordinators
Programme Officer Melissa Wong#
Alice Chan*, Nicole Chow*, Dorothy Chung*, Ryan Yung*
LOGISTICS
Logistics Manager Elvis King*
TECHNICAL Senior Production Manager Shirley Leung*
Production Manager Jacob Chan*
PUBLICATIONS Editorial Manager Eugene Chan*
English Editor Adam Wright*
Associate Editor Shao yi Chan*
Assistant Editor Lindsey Gan*
OUTREACH
Outreach Manager Carman Lam*
Outreach Coordinators Olivia Chan*, Giselle Li*, Tina Tang*, Ariel Wong*
Outreach Officers Raven Chiu*, Angel Kwok*
Outreach Assistant Christine Chan*
MARKETING
Marketing Director Katy Cheng
Associate Marketing Director Eugene Lo
Marketing Managers Vicki Cheng*, Stephanie Cheung*, Effie Wong*
Project Manager – Marketing Hades Tam*
Deputy Project Manager – Marketing Hill Li*
Assistant Marketing Manager Jessica Chu*
Marketing Coordinator Isaac Leung*
Marketing Officer Nancy Wong*
TICKETING
Senior Marketing Manager (Ticketing) Eppie Leung
Ticketing Officer Heidi Choi*
DEVELOPMENT Development Director
Special Development Associate Alex So*
Development Managers
Brenda Kan
Leroy Chan*, Evelyn Ip*, Janice Wong*
Assistant Development Manager Evelyn Kwok*
Development Officer Jeria Yip*
Temporary Development Assistant Cherry Chan*
CORPORATE SERVICES Finance Director Teresa Kwong
ACCOUNTS Account Manager
Connie To*
Accounting & Administrative Officer Charmaine Mak*
HR & ADMINISTRATION
HR and Admin Manager Janet Yeung*
Receptionist/Junior Secretary Virginia Li INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Information Technology Manager Derek Chan*
NO LIMITS
Project Director Eddy Zee*
Programme and Outreach Managers Becky Chung*, Tiffany Ko*, Frieda Ng*
Assistant Programme and Jasmine Poon*
Outreach Manager Programme and Outreach Coordinator Taylor Cheng*
Marketing Manager Carly Wong*
Deputy Marketing Managers Gina Chan*, King Ng*
Assistant Production Manager Dick Cheng*
Senior Accounting Officer Catherine Chung*
Artist Coordinators
Haynes Cheung*, Eleanor Chu*, Betty Fung*, Cassandra Heung*, Kelvin Ho*, Kitty Leung*, Joyce Lo*, Celine Luo*, Lucrezia Luxardo*, Blanche Wu*, Adrien Yeung*, Bonnie Yung*
Production Officer Rita Ngai*
Technical Coordinators Jess Cheung*, Yan Fan*, Cherry Fung*, Lawrence Lee*, Camille Tam*, Billy Tang*, Joyi Tsang*
*Contract Staff In alphabetical order #2025/26 The Arts Talents Internship Matching Programme is supported by the
Hong Kong Arts Development Council
Updated February 2026
Lead Founding Patrons
Mr Thomas Chan Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation
PCCW The Wharf Group
Major Founding Patrons YF Life Insurance International Ltd ZA BANK
Founding Patrons
Dr Raymond Chan, JP
Tan Sri Dato’ David Chiu
Mr Silas Chou
Mr and Mrs Canning and Eliza Fok
E.M. Fung Foundation Limited
Ms Pansy Ho, SBS, JP
King’s Flair International (Holdings) Limited
Dr Elina Leung
Dr Stephen Suen
Ms Cissy Pao, BBS and Mr Shinichiro Watari
Patron’s Club Members Platinum Member Kerry Holdings Limited
Gold Member
Silver Member Swire Properties
Jardine Matheson Limited
Bronze Members Nathaniel Foundation Dr. Wayne Hu Charitable Foundation Ltd
In-Kind Supporters The Peninsula Hotel Limited Tom Lee Music
Festival Donation Scheme PLATINUM DONOR (HK$140,000 OR ABOVE)
Sebastian Man DIAMOND DONOR (HK$70,000 - HK$139,999)
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Wendy Nam Stephen Tan
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Dr. KT CHAN
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