"Crossing Asia: Discovering Self Voice" Cross-Cultural Performance Project - Solo Performance Series

Overview

Spanning three years, the "Crossing Asia: Discovering Self Voice" project has sought to revitalize the Asian performing arts scene through rigorous physical theater training and profound personal inquiry. Under the guidance of Thomas Richards—the artistic heir of 20th-century theater master Jerzy Grotowski—and his troupe, "Theatre No Theatre," seven performers from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and Korea have crafted unique solo works based on their own life stories and core concerns.

Following a successful tour in Taiwan, the project concludes its journey in November at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Studio Theatre. This finale serves as a demonstration of the "Poor Theatre" spirit. In a special highlight, Thomas Richards and his team will join all the performers to publicly demonstrate their daily "action research" methods. By connecting ancient Mediterranean and African songs to physical actions, they aim to awaken deep-seated human potential and presence. This is an invitation to witness how actors transcend everyday existence through the power of melody, rhythm, and vibration.

Performance Program

13 Nov 2026 (Fri) | 8:00 PM

• Huang Yuan-en (Taiwan) "Let Me Out": A story about a girl raised in the confinement of piano practice rooms who, as an adult music teacher, still hides the child inside who longs to escape.
• Chung Siu-hei (Hong Kong) "Always With Me": A boy growing up in post-colonial Hong Kong navigating the tension between his Cantonese roots and the English-speaking God he encounters.

14 Nov 2026 (Sat) | 3:00 PM

• Lim Yu-tsong (Singapore) "I'm Hungry": An exploration of familial belonging and the desire for roots, triggered by childhood memories of wooden splinters, death, and silence.
• Thomas Richards & Theatre No Theatre "Song Demonstration": Since 1986, Thomas Richards has used traditional songs as a core tool for daily practice. This open demonstration reveals how they use melody and rhythm to engage in "work on oneself."

14 Nov 2026 (Sat) | 8:00 PM

• Chow Man-kai (Singapore) "Alaska Epic": Joe, lost in Singapore, flees to an Alaskan farm, only to find that his past—his mother and former loves—has followed him.
• Mok Yin (Hong Kong) "Obsession": Combining the precision of ballet with Buddhist deconstruction to question one's attachments between the desire and fear of being loved.

15 Nov 2026 (Sun) | 8:00 PM

• Hui Ka-yan (Singapore) "Original Sin": A struggle between physical desire and religious guilt in a conservative Christian upbringing.
• Choi Woo-tae (Korea) "Emi": Revealing the origins of traditional Korean drama through the story of a craftsman in an ancient village crafting masks to save his people.

Venue & Practical Info

• Venue: Hong Kong Cultural Centre Studio Theatre
• Languages: English, Mandarin (Huang Yuan-en's session), and Korean (Choi Woo-tae's session), all with Traditional Chinese subtitles.
• Duration: Approx. 2.5 hours, including post-show talks for all sessions.
• Restrictions: Suitable for ages 6 and above. Free seating.