Refuse to Listen: A Jazz Musical Theatre of Haruki Murakami

Overview

Following the overwhelming acclaim of the 2023 and 2024 editions at JCCAC and the HKADC Exhibition Hall, the literary and musical cross-disciplinary project 'Refuse to Listen: A Jazz Musical Theatre of Haruki Murakami', directed by Justin Siu, makes its debut at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Officially authorized by the Haruki Murakami Labyrinth Library, this production offers a profound investigation into the psychological struggles and repressed memories characteristic of Murakami’s literature.

More than a standard concert or traditional theatre piece, this production blends drama, video, live music, and delicate shadow puppetry to create an immersive, surreal space on stage. Drawing imagery from works ranging from early novels like 'Pinball, 1973' and 'A Wild Sheep Chase' to later writings such as 'Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage', the production invites audiences to find a moment of stillness amidst the urban noise.

Highlights

• Cross-Media Aesthetics: The production translates literary imagery into a visual experience, using music and dialogue to reinterpret the complex psychological states of characters who choose to 'refuse to listen'.
• Stellar Cast: Featuring renowned Japanese saxophonist Yu Hagiwara alongside actor Zoe Lau and Justin Siu, the performance promises a unique audio-visual fusion.
• A Dialogue of Literature and Jazz: True to Murakami’s sentiment that 'the song is over, but the melody lingers on', this show serves not only as a tribute to jazz music but as a profound reflection on the indelible memories that shape our lives.

Venue & Access

The event takes place at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Studio Theatre, located at 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. It is easily accessible via the MTR Tsim Sha Tsui or East Tsim Sha Tsui stations.

Ticketing

• Ticket Price: HK$300 and HK$350.
• How to Purchase: Tickets are available via the Art-mate website.
• Supporters: This project is supported by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC), though the content does not reflect the views of the Council.