Olivia Yan - An Invitation: On Empty Theatre
Participating Artists: Patra Au Ga-man, Anson Chan, Chan Kwun-fee, Jordan Cheng, Margaret Cheung, Cheung Ming-yiu, Chu Pak-hong, Sean Curran, Lai Yuk-ching, Jen Lam, Lau Shau-ching*, Joey Leung Cho-yiu#, Leung Tin-chak, Lim Wei-wei, Ling Man-lung, James Mark, Pak Ching-ying+, Kearen Pang, Shaw Mei-kwan#, Sung Boon-ho, Edmond Tong Chun-yip#, Shirlee Tsoi Wan-wa, Rosa Velasco, Birdy Wong Ching-yan, Chester Wong Po-shing, Wong Wing-sze, Olivia Yan^, Yau Chung-wai, Rebecca Yip Lai-ka, Candice Yu (In alphabetical order by surnames)
* With the kind permission of Hong Kong Repertory Theatre
+With the kind permission of Chung Ying Theatre Company
# With the kind permission of Windmill Grass Theatre
^ With the kind permission of O Theatre Workshop
An Invitation: On Empty Theatre is co-produced and co-presented by Edward Lam Dance Theatre and Freespace, West Kowloon.
Creative and Production Team:
Original Concept and Director: Edward Lam
Dramaturg: Low Kee Hong*
Producers: Lai Siu Fai, Bobo Lee*
Associate Producers: Waisun Chung, Franco Yau*
Video Director and Editor: Kenneth Yuen @ Gain
Production Cameraman: Wong Hing Hang
Creative Co-ordinators: Ho Ting Wai, Ray Leung, Darwin Ng
Co-ordinator: Meredith Wong*
Subtitle Editors: Lam Kiu Yan, Lau Ka Ying, Alysa Leung, Tina Zheng, Kitty Ho*, Peace Chiu*, Vikki Weston*, Loretta Tsang*, Yolanda Cheng*, Guk Yu*
Technical and Production: Annie Yim*
*Staff of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority
Right now, the theatre industry faces an uncertain future.
Since the outbreak of the global pandemic at the beginning of 2020, closures, cancellations, travel bans and lockdowns have had a major impact on theatres, actors and industry workers around the world.
This June, Edward Lam Dance Theatre and Freespace invited 30 Hong Kong-based actors to place themselves inside an empty theatre and reflect on their relationship with the audience, and the meaning of theatre, both as a space and as an art form, in the absence of audience and performers.
There were no rehearsals. Standing alone in Freespace’s black box theatre, facing an empty auditorium, each artist produced intuitive, heartfelt, short solo videos responding to the space, and exploring the nature of theatre when live performance is impossible.