Hong Kong Stories, a non-profit society dedicated to the art of storytelling, is hosting a two-week spoken word festival in Hong Kong. The festival brings together various groups who will hold live performances in venues all over the city almost every night from 18 May to 2 June, 2018.
The first of its kind, it’s bringing together poetry, storytelling, comedy, writing, acting and entertaining, performed by Hong Kong’s best-spoken word artists. Rachel Smith, the organiser says, “There are so many creative groups in Hong Kong and we rarely come together to do something as a whole. This is a great opportunity to join forces and celebrate the talent Hong Kong has to offer.”
The event line-up:
17-20 May 7 – 9 pm Venue TBC: Hong Kong Improv Jamboree 2018 by HK Improv
21 May, 8-10pm at Metta: HK Podversations by Hong Kong Confidential
22 May, 8-10pm at the Culture Club: Perspectives of Hong Kong by the Hong Kong Writers Circle
23 May, 8-10pm at the Social Room: Anyone But Your Own by Peel Street Poetry
24 May, 8-10pm at the Fringe Club: Age of Reckoning by Hong Kong Stories
25 May, 8-10pm at the Fringe Club: Top Notch 1 by Hong Kong Stories
26 May, 8-10pm at the Fringe Club: Top Notch 2 by Hong Kong Stories
28 May, 8-10pm at the Social Room: Patrons and Parasites by Liars’ League
28 May, 8:30 – 10 at Bar 109: My First Joke by Comedy HK
29 May, 7-9pm at the FCC: Giving Voice to Your Story: Presenting your work to an audience
30 May – 2 June at the Fringe Club: The 39 Steps by Aurora Theatre
31 May 9 – 11 pm at the Culture Club: The Worst by Hong Komedy Guerilla
What can you expect?
HK Improv hosts monthly improv shows. They also offer classes and workshops to learn the art of improvisation. Entry level participants are welcome, and no experience is required.
Hong Kong Confidential is a podcast about the lives of people in Hong Kong. Hosted by Jules Hannaford, the podcast offers a platform for people to share their wisdom, stories and experiences with listeners.
The Hong Kong Writers Circle is a member organisation for writers of all levels and genres. Founded in 1991, they provide members with opportunities to further their craft, network with industry professionals, receive feedback and take part in workshops, socials and the annual anthology.
Peel Street Poetry is an English language open mic night that has been running for over 12 years. It currently takes places on the second and third Wednesday of every month at the Social Room in Central.
Liar’s League Hong Kong is a quarterly fiction event, that has been running for six years. Pieces of flash fiction (800 to 1200 words) are globally submitted, locally selected and assigned to actors for an evening of performance and storytelling, currently held at the Social Room in Central.
Women in Publishing Society (WiPS) brings together a dynamic group of publishing professionals working in all fields related to writing, journalism, and electronic and print publishing. The Society meets monthly and annually publish Imprint, an anthology of work written and produced entirely by members.
Aurora Theatre is an independent theatre company that aims to promote English language shows in the local Hong Kong art scene. Founded by theatre performer and producer Nicole Garbellini in 2010, the company brings international and original material to the stage.
Comedy HK hosts open mic comedy nights on Mondays in Wan Chai and workshops during the year for fresh comedians or old hands. They hold their Monday night events at Bar 109 and everyone is welcome.
Hong Komedy Guerilla is a collective of stand-up comedians who believe they have more than just jokes to tell. We want to tell stories whether they that are interesting, exciting, and heartwarming knowing that we can still deliver comedy outta nowhere from real life.
Find out more on their website and Facebook page.