Korean Group HADDANGSE Debuts Award-Winning Multimedia Theatre Waiting! at Hong Kong's International Arts Carnival

IAC presents deep-sea adventure in exciting and hilarious Korean multimedia theatre performance "Waiting!" in August

For the International Arts Carnival (IAC), a summer arts festival organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Korean art group HADDANGSE will present its signature multimedia theatre production "Waiting!" this year. The award-winning performance was warmly received by audiences of all ages when performed at the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In its coming debut in Hong Kong, the performance features a heartwarming story paired with dazzling visual effects, bringing laughter and surprises.

The story of "Waiting!" begins with a young girl, Bada, who longs to reunite with her fisherman father and unexpectedly embarks on an exciting and hilarious deep-sea adventure. After setting out alone to find her dad, Bada is swallowed by a whale, which takes her to its dark belly where she dances with various glowing underwater creatures.

Using cardboard props and blacklight effects, the programme is set against the backdrop of a magnificent ship and vast ocean. With lively and humorous performances by the cast, the amazing show is full of fun and imagination without the need for words.

Korean art group HADDANGSE, established in 2008, dedicates itself to creating imaginative and community-oriented theatrical works. The group emphasises audience participation, inviting viewers to become co-creators of the performance and experience the magic of immersive theatre. "Waiting!" has won the 2024 International Association of Theatre & Performing Arts for Children & Young People Seoul Children's Theatre Grand Prize and Best Director Award.

"Waiting!" will be staged at 7.30pm on August 1, 11am and 3pm on August 2, and 3pm on August 3 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Studio Theatre. Tickets priced at $280 and $340 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288, or use the mobile ticketing app "URBTIX".

For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2370 1044 or visit the IAC website (www.hkiac.gov.hk).

This year's IAC will run from July 11 to August 17, featuring a wide array of fun-filled educational programmes by overseas, Mainland and local art groups and artists. In addition to martial arts, acrobatics, dance, music, theatre and multimedia, the IAC will also offer film screenings, parent-child workshops, an online programme, an outreach performance and an exhibition.

IAC presents deep-sea adventure in exciting and hilarious Korean multimedia theatre performance "Waiting!" in August Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

IAC presents deep-sea adventure in exciting and hilarious Korean multimedia theatre performance "Waiting!" in August Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

IAC presents deep-sea adventure in exciting and hilarious Korean multimedia theatre performance "Waiting!" in August Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Commission on Children convenes 27th meeting

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (March 5) chaired the 27th meeting of the Commission on Children.

At the meeting, members were briefed by the Department of Health (DH) on the physical and mental impacts on children from the use of electronic screen products. In light of the advancement in information and communication technology, children's use of the Internet and electronic screen devices has become increasingly pervasive. The Government set up an interdepartmental expert advisory group in October last year to review the health effects of electronic screens and social media on children and provide related health recommendations, with a view to encouraging children to establish regular and healthy lifestyles and avoid excessive use of electronic screen products.

The Education Bureau (EDB), the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) and the DH also provided members with an overview of the Government's implementation of sex education and associated support measures. The EDB, using values education as a core framework, has connected sex education with other cross-curricular domains through different subjects and life-wide learning activities, etc, aiming to cultivate students' proper values and attitudes holistically. The DH provides students with sex education information through multiple channels, including outreach health seminars, educational counselling, websites and social media platforms. The HKPF promotes sex education and crime prevention information through outreach talks, online/offline promotional materials, etc, to help children develop proper values and positive attitudes towards life and practise appropriate behaviour while building healthy interpersonal relationships. Relevant government departments will continue to collaborate with parents and all sectors of society to implement sex education and values education, enabling children to grow up healthily.

Members welcomed the various measures implemented by the Government in promoting the healthy use of electronic screen products among children and sex education for children and exchanged views on how to further advance the relevant work.

Source: AI-found images