Theatre Ronin — Theatre is Touken
In the Mood for Red (2022) Photo by Fung Wai Sun
Theatre Ronin was founded by its artistic director Alex Tam Hung Man in 2006 and is currently a recipient of Hong Kong Arts Development Council’s three-year grant.
Theatre Ronin forges its touken (sword in Japanese) by bestowing the vastitude of fine sceneries in the human realm; through the use of highly romantic imageries on stage, it endeavours to preserve the world’s reminiscent beauty before its aurora vanish in the New Media Age.
Dedicated to exploring contemporary theatrical language and the aesthetics of ‘Theatre of Imagery’ and creating a distinctively imaginative performing style, Theatre Ronin’s theatrical works stemmed from varied source materials, as well as the culture and literature of Hong Kong and the world, creating thought-provoking theatrical works with humanistic concerns. Many of its works are invited to various arts festivals in Beijing, Shenzhen, France, Argentina, the United Kingdom, Taipei and Taichung.
In addition to theatre production, the troupe actively promotes theatre art projects. From 2014 to 2016, they organized the "Sculpting the CITY – Connecting the theatre with Hong Kong literature", which revolved around Hong Kong Trilogy by Chan Koon-chung and Androgyny by Dung Kai-cheung. They curated a series of activities related to these two novels, exploring the present through past texts.
In terms of theatre aesthetics and education, the troupe collaborated with The Education University of Hong Kong to plan and coordinate theatre-related courses, as well as organize workshops on theatre aesthetics and related topics to promote theatrical arts.
From 2021 to 2024, the troupe participated in the Leisure and Cultural Services Department's "18dART Community Arts Scheme", produced "Good Times of Kwai Tsing Theatre Project I, II and III". They have also been selected multiple times for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department's "Community Cultural Ambassador Program", curating a series of performances and workshops for the public to enjoy and participate in.
Past Production:
2025
Why Do I Study Anthropology? (Starting from Haw Par Mansion) (Hong Kong Fringe Festival 2025)
2024
A Kid Story (4th Run)
Śūnyatā - a theatre containing elements of Hong Kong literature and opera, presented in Cantonese
(1st HKPAX Ground Search)
The Mariana Trench (Re-run, Edinburgh Festival Fringe)
Burmese Days (Re-run, Hong Kong)
2023
Landscape in the Mist (5th Run, Shenzhen)
Love & Samsara (3rd Run, Hong Kong)
Love & Samsara (2nd Run, Taipei)
Vinyāsa。Śūnyatā (Cantonese operatic Theatre)
2022
Beyond This Time
Love & Samsara (1st Run, Taichung)
Theatre Movie: A Many-Splendoured Thing (Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Melbourne Fringe Festival)
Burmese Days (1st Run, Hong Kong)
Immersive Literature Theatre: Xi Xi Maria
Theatre Movie: Hoichi the Earless 2.0
2021
Theatre Movie: Hoichi the Earless 2.0 (Urban Festival)
Theatre Ronin 15th Anniversary performance: Three Colours Trilogy II Narrative Musical Theatre In the Mood for Red
Theatre Movie: Practice of ZEN (Hong Kong premiere and was one of the “Highly Recommended shortlist of finalists” of Asian Arts Award in Edinburgh Festival Fringe)
2019
Narrative Music Theatre: Aquamarine
Hoichi the Earless (4th Run, Edinburgh Festival Fringe)
Fallen (Re-run)
Wilderness of Soul 2.0 (2nd Run, Urban Festival)
2018
A Many-Splendoured Thing (Tai Kwun project, Hong Kong)
Twilight series - Hoichi the Earless (2nd Run in Hong Kong, 3rd Run on Festival Off d’Avignon Arts Festival)
Twilight series - Playing with Xi Xi (3rd Run)
2017
Hoichi the Earless (1st Run)
Fallen (1st Run)
Playing with Xi Xi (Hong Kong premiere; won 2017 Taipei Fringe Festival Best Space Award)
Forget him/her/it (M+, Hong Kong)
Bear-Men
2016
Nature (adapted from Androgyny by Dung Kai-cheung; Hong Kong premiere and 2016 Kuandu Arts Festival Re-run)
Silent Scream – Mother Courage & her Children on the Beach (Taipei)
Landscape in the Mist (adapted from The Fog by Shu Hong Sing; 2016 International Performing Arts Festival Bahia Teatro)
2015
Sentimental K (adapted from Hong Kong Trilogy by Chan Koon-chung; Hong Kong premiere and 2015 Theatre Works of Outstanding Youth, Beijing)
A Girl Like Me (The 8th Taipei Fringe Festival)
Wilderness of Soul 2.0 (1st Run, Urban Festival)
2014
Sew & Soul
Memorandum: 10 years. Han. Xiao
Landscape in the Mist (The 1st China City Theatre Festival)
2013
P.E. Period 2.0
The Mariana Trench (3rd Run, Beijing)
2012
Landscape in the Mist (Beijing Fringe Festival)
My P.E. Period
Searching for Da Vinci
2011
True man show in showroom (Re-run)
The Mariana Trench since 1960s (Re-run)
2010
Wilderness of Soul
Landscape in the Mist (2010 Hong Kong premiere)
2006
The Mariana Trench (Hong Kong premiere)
……etc
Organizational Structure
Artistic Director: Tam Hung-man, Alex
Executive Director: Lam Pik-chi, Jessie
Administration Assistant: Lam Wai-fan
Arts Administration Trainee: Sylvia Lai#
#2023/24 The Arts Talents Internship Matching Programme is supported by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council
Consultant
Dramaturg: Dr. Lin Ke-huan
Literary Consultant: Dung Kai-cheung
Hong Kong Culture consultant: Prof. Chu Yiu-wai Stephen