BAMBOO THEATRE 戲棚

Sun 15 May | 15:15 | Studio/K | Q&A (online) with Director Cheung CHEUK 

While permanent theatres are commonly built in most modern cities, Hong Kong has preserved a uniquely Chinese tradition of theatrical architecture. The bamboo theatre is a makeshift, open-air theatre, built and fixed entirely by plastic straps. During festivities in the villages, Chinese opera troupes perform in these temporary spaces, constructed in front of temples to express the village’s gratitude to the gods. Filmed over two years with a carefully observational gaze, this documentary follows the theatre’s process of building and dismantling and the collaborative work of troupes, stage managers, and everyone in between, crafting a portrait of ritual practices tucked away in the corners of the metropolis.