Burmese Days
"I wanted to write enormous naturalistic novels with unhappy endings, full of detailed descriptions and arresting similes... And in fact my first completed novel, Burmese Days, which I wrote when I was thirty, is rather that kind of book."
- George Orwell, Why I Write
Ever since the founding of Theatre Ronin, we have been focusing on putting Hong Kong literature on theatre. This year, to mark our 16th anniversary, we bring forth our first ever foreign novel adaptation, Burmese Days by George Orwell.
Theatre Ronin explores the spiritual world of young Orwell with our unique contemporary theatrical aesthetics.
13-15 May, 2022
Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
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 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
Xi Xi Maria
"People deserved to own their beautiful homeland."
It starts with two people being trapped in a foreign land by a lion. She build a home for others, while he build a home for himself. They tell each other memories and hope towards home, looking for salvation in suppression.
Adapted from awarded short novel Maria by Xixi, this is a immersive theatrical experience in a big mansion. Diving into Xi Xi's world, audience can feel their own fear and comfort.
5-7 Jan, 2022
Creative & Production Team
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
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 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
Theatre Movie: Hoichi the Earless 2.0
A monk tells the tale of a blind musician being haunted.
Hoichi is a blind lute musician living in a temple.
One night while the abbot was out, a samurai come to invite Hoichi to play for his master.
The abbot is skeptical about Hoichi’s going out every night, so he sends a monk to tail her.
A secret is then unveiled.
Adapted from Kwaidan –Hoichi the Earless by Koizumi Yakumo, this is an aesthetic exploration integrating Nanguan music*, storytelling, movement and space. Audience then go deep into their own vulnerability.
Dec, 2021 to Apr, 2022
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
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 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
Practice of ZEN: Director’s Cut
The Story of Swordsman from Mount Shu was written by Li Shoumin. Born in the Republic of China, he wrote about a world of Xuanhuan Wuxia, captivated millions who found themselves in troubled times.
In the 80s, on a roof webbed with fish bone antenna, a kid with his superhero blanket cape was brought to a realm of Wuxia he longed for, by a leaf.
He took in all the tangling of impermanence with resentment, lust with karma, in the martial world. With one light slash he was back, but thousands of years have passed.
Practice of ZEN brings the spirit of Wuxia in contemporary theatrical language. Not a fairytale for grownups, Wuxia is a medium to evoke thinking between the personal and the social.
Pandemic halts shows but not creativity and artistry. Theatre Ronin strives to innovate and capture moments of sincerity. We invite you to be our witness as performers relive the tale.
16 Apr, 2021
Concert hall, Hong Kong City Hall
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
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 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
Aquamarine
Adapted from “Me and You and a Dog Named Boo” by Louis Ho.
Ah Yat starts his journey searching for himself at the age of 18 in 2003, in retrospect his friendship, love, and his father, who had just passed away.
Theatre Ronin is dedicated to creating their “Theatre of Imagery” stemmed from literature. In this performance, Theatre Ronin collaborates with independent musician, Jing Wong and Best New Performer of Hong Kong Film Award, Ling Man Lung to locate a new way of music theatre and literature.
17-21 Oct, 2019
Shouson Theatre, Hong Kong Arts Centre
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
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 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
Fallen (Re-run)
Born in Hong Kong, Shou Son CHOW was chosen to be part of the Chinese Educational Mission at a very young age. He then spent almost a decade in the United States, a place that is a thousand mile away from home. Just when he was admitted to Columbia University, the Chinese government called back all students aboard. He had to depart immediately after the very last baseball match in the United States, back to that foreign and distant place called home.
Fallen reconstructs Chow’s 7 years in the United States, meanwhile explores how an established man struggled to stay gold.
12-14 Apr, 2019
Theatre, Hong Kong City Hall
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
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 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
A Many Splendoured Thing
Afternoon
Going to the Prison Yard of Tai Kwun
To retrospect lunch time at school
Classmates are reading novels
They imagine themselves being protagonists
Playground becomes the darkroom of memory
Reflect all illusions
Only Love is real
21 Nov 2018 to 10 Feb 2019
Tai Kwun Prison Yard
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
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 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
"Aquamarine" Showcase
Performance text adapted by Louis Ho’s “Me and You and a Dog Named Boo”.
"Scientist says that humans have strengthened their relationship with tears and united us to get the greatest possible survival."
In a journey, Ah Yat thinks about himself at the age of 18 in 2003, about his friendship with Wing, his love with Ding, and his father who had just passed away.
30 Jan 2019
McAulay Studio, Hong Kong Arts Centre
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
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 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
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Twilight series
In the twilight of July, one night of two exquisite works "Playing with Xixi" and "Hoichi the Earless", experience and feel different stories in the subtle that touch your heart.
12-15 July 2018
Studio Theatre, HK Cultural Centre
 Photo: Cheung Chi Wai |
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 Photo: Cheung Chi Wai |
 Photo: Cheung Chi Wai |
 Photo: Cheung Chi Wai |
 Photo: Cheung Chi Wai |
Hoichi the Earless
A monk tells the tale of a blind musician being haunted.
Hoichi is a blind lute musician living in a temple.
One night while the abbot was out, a samurai come to invite Hoichi to play for his master.
The abbot is skeptical about Hoichi’s going out every night, so he sends a monk to tail her.
A secret is then unveiled.
Adapted from Kwaidan –Hoichi the Earless by Koizumi Yakumo, this is an aesthetic exploration integrating Nanguan music*, storytelling, movement and space. Audience then go deep into their own vulnerability.
17-18 Dec, 2017
Theatre Ronin
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
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Fallen
Born in Hong Kong, Shou Son CHOW was chosen to be part of the Chinese Educational Mission at a very young age. He then spent almost a decade in the United States, a place that is a thousand mile away from home. Just when he was admitted to Columbia University, the Chinese government called back all students aboard. He had to depart immediately after the very last baseball match in the United States, back to that foreign and distant place called home.
Fallen reconstructs Chow’s 7 years in the United States, meanwhile explores how an established man struggled to stay gold.
1-3 Dec, 2017
Theatre, Hong Kong City Hall
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
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Playing with Xi Xi
Theatre Ronin creates theatre performance from Hong Kong renowed writer Xi Xi’s work again after A Girl Like me, the performance idea is created from four texts of Mourn Over the Breasts and Poetry Collection of Xi Xi, which will be focus on three identities: Female, Patient and Teacher in search for their common values and develop to immersive imagery theatre, and audience will experience Xi Xi's fascinating words at short range.
19-20 Sep, 2017
Theatre Ronin
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
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Forget him/her/it
Theatre Ronin was invited by M+ to do a pop-up stage reading performances during the exhibition 《Ambiguously Yours》Gender in Hong Kong Popular Culture, namely 《Forget him/her/it 》.
The performance “Forget him / her / it” is an interactive improvised performance in response to the exhibition. Performers use everyday items of clothing and objects to illustrate the dual-gender character of their bodies. He/She/They walk among the exhibits and turn the exhibition space into a private room, allowing the audience to voyeuristically experience the sense of “ambiguity”.
April-May, 2017
M+ Pavilion
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
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Play-reading : Orlando’s Lovers
Emerging playwright Wu Tianlin’s creation, directed by Alex Tam Hung Man. The work is inspired by Virginia Woolf’s Orlando.
The first reading last year was unforgettable. This year, the play reading will be conducted à la environmental theatre to give audience an even more memorable experience.
3-6 Mar, 2017
Theatre Ronin
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
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Bear-Men
The performance begins from Notes on Sewing Bears. Performers transform to different “me” and go back to a white room, roar with music and dance with senseless boredom. In the myriad of image, young bodies reflect how we evolve from predicaments. The echo of life that has never stopped sounding in our solitude is heard.
6-8 Jan, 2017
Theatre, Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
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 攝影: 馮偉新 |
 攝影: 馮偉新 |
 攝影: 馮偉新 |
 攝影: 馮偉新 |
Nature by Dung Kai-Androgynyby Theatre Ronin - Adapted from cheung
Contrastive imageries and concepts taken from Androgyny – body and limbs, male and female, ying and yang, animals and plants, rural and urban – are interwoven to present as a dance music theatre through a dialogue between drama and dance.
9-11 Sep 2016
Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
 Photo: Fung Wai Sun |
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 攝影: 馮偉新 |
 攝影: 馮偉新 |
 攝影: 馮偉新 |
 攝影: 馮偉新 |
2016 International Arts Carnival - "Legend of the Sky: Ki Ki & the Eternal Flame"
Ki Ki who loves nature and slow living came to Rainbow City with Pink Dog. After the opening of the Incinerator Park, the gigantic incinerator has changed into a Rainbow Monster. The Pink Dog, in order to protect the city, transforms himself and takes on a fight against Rainbow Monster in a decisive battle. Combining multimedia images and real-time photographing, puppetry and original music, this theatrical production will be loved by the whole family.
29-31 July 2016
Theatre, Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre
 Photo by Fung Wai Sun |
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 Photo by Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo by Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo by Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo by Fung Wai Sun |
Theatre Ronin x lake view sun room - Reflector: OS1
Borrowing the thoughts of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin to reflect on the present Hong Kong where countless interchanges of sounds and images are speeding through the optic fibers – are the heart and spirit of people making seamless connection? The audience will experience together the lonesome of individual in a narrow space.
30 June - 4 July 2016
Theatre Ronin
 Photo by Wong Hau In |
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 Photo by Wong Hau In |
 Photo by Wong Hau In |
 Photo by Wong Hau In |
 Photo by Wong Hau In |
 Photo by Wong Hau In |
Play-reading: Orlando’s Lovers
Inspired by Virginia Woolf’s Orlando, this work created by fledgling playwright Wu Tian Lin and directed by Alex Tam is presented in the form of play reading.
10 April 2016
Theatre Ronin
 Photo by Fung Wai Sun |
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 Photo by Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo by Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo by Fung Wai Sun |
Once Upon A Time
Centered on the 1984 song album "The Root of Love", this theatrical piece is a response to an era. Vivid memories of love affairs that might be forgotten are re-shaped through a dialogue of the lyrics
22-24 Jan 2016
Multi-media Theatre, HKICC Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity
 Photo by keith hiro |
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 Photo by Eric |
 Photo by keith hiro |
 Photo by keith hiro |
 Photo by keith hiro |
 Photo by keith hiro |
Sentimental K - Adapted from Hong Kong Trilogy by Chan Koon-chung
A re-work of the three short novels in Chan Koon-chung’s Hong Kong Trilogy through a creative collage of “exotic” sounds, movement, and theatre entwined in texts, music, acoustics, dance and video images etc. The amazing mix endeavours to reflect on one’s self here-and-now by venturing into the past history of one’s own city.
25-27 Sept 2015
Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
 Photo by keith hiro |
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 Photo by Eric |
 Photo by keith hiro |
 Photo by keith hiro |
 Photo by keith hiro |
 Photo by Eric |
 Photo by keith hiro |
 Photo by keith hiro |
 Photo by keith hiro |
Stories of Object: Landscape of The CITY from post 80s - a crossover experience of theatre and literature
Stories of Object: Landscape of The CITY from post 80s is a creative collaboration of four authors, resulted from numerous exchanges with the Artistic Director of Theatre Ronin and experts in various art and stage genres (literary works, visual effects, lighting and sounds). The work combines literary texts, play reading and different theatrical elements to create a unique experience for the audience to peep into the mental world of the authors and to share their visual landscapes of our city.
23-26 March 2015
Black Box Theatre, Kwai Tsing Theatre
 "Bump", photo by Paul Chan |
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 "Screen: Reflector", photo by Paul Chan |
 "Love Letters", photo by Yuen Hon Wai |
 "Lion Rock Paper Notes", photo by Yuen Hon Wai |
Sew & Soul
“Sew & Soul” was adapted from the novel of the same name by Hon Lai-chu. Theatre Ronin presented the fictional world with a variety of theatrical means, reflecting both the sad and ludicrous sides of the real world. After our cities are sewn together, how far away is the world where people are sewn together?
9-11 May 2014
Theatre, Sheung Wan Civic Centre
 Photo by Carmen So |
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 Photo by Carmen So |
 Photo by Carmen So |
 Photo by Carmen So |
 Photo by Carmen So |
Memorandum: 10 years. Han. Xiao
“Memorandum: 10 years. Han. Xiao” was based on seven short stories by Hon Lai-chu, Dorothy Tse and Lee Wai-yee. Through words the sceneries of the city in the past ten years were constructed; and through Theatre Ronin’s touken a literary music theatre performance embroidered.
23-26 Jan 2014
Cultural Activities Hall, Tsuen Wan Town Hall
 Photo by Cheung Chi Wai |
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 Photo by Cheung Chi Wai |
 Photo by Cheung Chi Wai |
 Photo by Cheung Chi Wai |
2013 International Arts Carnival –"Legend of the Ocean: La La & the Litter Castle"
Can one understand the true meaning of happiness in a city of materialism and consumerism? “Legend of the Ocean: La La & the Litter Castle” employs the art of puppetry and is a multi-media theatre piece suitable for the family.
18-21 July 2013
Black Box Theatre, Kwai Tsing Theatre
 Photo by Cheung Chi Wai |
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 Photo by Cheung Chi Wai |
 Photo by Cheung Chi Wai |
 Photo by Cheung Chi Wai |
P.E. Period 2.0 -
Literary Music Theatre
“P.E. Period 2.0” is a Literary Music Theatre piece about two young girls’ struggles in life, exemplified by the violence and tenderness of youth, in a wasteland-like city.
Adapted from Dung Kai-cheung’s novel “P.E. Period”
15-17 March 2013
Multi-media Theatre, HKICC Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity
 Photo by Carmen So |
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 Photo by Carmen So |
 Photo by Carmen So |
 Photo by Carmen So |
My P.E. Period
Inspired by Dung Kai-cheung’s novel “P.E. Period”, “My P.E. Period” explores the motif of “youth” by a wide-range kinds of performances, including (but not limited by) reading, singing, calligraphy, typing, painting, role-playing, objects manipulation, humming, etc...
17-18 Nov 2012
Theatre Horizon
 Photo by Nelson Wu |
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 Photo by Nelson Wu |
 Photo by Nelson Wu |
 Photo by Nelson Wu |
Searching for Da Vinci
Taking off from the life and paintings of Leonardo da Vinci, the play tries to depict different facets of the Renaissance genius’ creative world, and pinpointing a mentality that people in the modern world lacks (or should have).
23-26 Feb 2012
Multi-Media Theatre, HKICC Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity
 Photo by Carmen So |
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 Photo by Carmen So |
 Photo by Carmen So |
 Photo by Carmen So |
 攝影: Carmen So |
True man show in showroom
(Re-run)
First time to crossover with Eric Tang.
While living in a haunted showroom, Chan Yiu-tak decides to safeguard “something” that a guest left behind. One day, an accident traps everyone in the showroom. The female ghost appears again while each trapped character tries to figure out their own destiny...
14-24 July 2011
Black Box Theatre, Kwai Tsing Theatre
 Photo by Carmen So |
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 Photo by Carmen So |
 Photo by Carmen So |
 Photo by Carmen So |
The Mariana Trench since 1960s
A revised version based on The Mariana Trench produced in 2006.
The shows the life condition and inner world of a Ma-jie (maid-servant), a profession unique to Hong Kong in the past. It is Theatre Ronin’s endeavor to manifest humanism in art, and a reflection on the emptiness of the contemporary soul.
7-17 April 2011
McAulay Studio, Hong Kong Arts Centre
 Photo by Paul Chan |
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 Photo by Paul Chan |
 Photo by Paul Chan |
 Photo by Paul Chan |
Cao Yu Drama Festival –
The Blackbox Cao Yu "Wilderness of Soul"
Adapted from Cao Yu’s “Wilderness”, this piece attempts to find the true meaning of “wilderness” in the mind of Chinese’s most renowned modern playwright, by pushing the limits in situations where people try to break from extreme plight, with the intensive use of soliloquy.
2-5 Dec 2010
Y-Theatre, Youth Square
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Landscape in the Mist
Leung Tai-Kwai is a seaman. 15 years ago, he left Shau Ke Wan, a place where he lived and worked. In a foggy March morning, he returns. Amongst the fog, the past parades itself before his eyes. This is a performance of actors, shadow puppets and rod puppets.
Adapted from Shu Hong-sing’s short novel, “The Fog”.
30 Sept - 3 Oct 2010
Black Box Theatre, Kwai Tsing Theatre
 Photo by Benny Leung |
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 Photo by Benny Leung |
To Be Continued…
Li Xianglan, a legend almost forgotten, had a life that shares the fate of our city - one that was glamourous but suffocating. The legend then becomes a myth. Everything begins with a little white flower on the wall...
27 Feb - 1 March 2009
Cultural Activities Hall, Sha Tin Town Hall
 Photo by REMU |
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 Photo by REMU |
 Photo by REMU |
 Photo by REMU |
The 7th Hong Kong Literature Festival-
"The Fog"
Leung Tai-Kwai is a seaman. 15 years ago, he left Shau Ke Wan, a place where he lived and worked. In a foggy March morning, he returns. Amongst the fog, the past parades itself before his eyes. This is a performance of actors, shadow puppets and rod puppets.
Adapted from Shu Hong-sing’s short novel, “The Fog”.
12 July 2008
Exhibition Gallery, Hong Kong Central Library
 Photo by REMU |
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 Photo by REMU |
 Photo by REMU |
The Mariana Trench
The shows the life condition and inner world of a Ma-jie (maid-servant), a profession unique to Hong Kong in the past. It is Theatre Ronin’s endeavor to manifest humanism in art, and a reflection on the emptiness of the contemporary soul.
6-15 Oct 2006
McAulay Studio, Hong Kong Arts Centre
 Photo by Fung Wai Sun |
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 Photo by Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo by Fung Wai Sun |
 Photo by Fung Wai Sun |