Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The East Kowloon Cultural Centre (EKCC) will be in full operation from November and present the EKCC Opening Season programmes from November to February, 2026. The programmes will bring together Chinese Mainland, local and international creative talent with unique theatre experiences through the convergence of arts and technology. The EKCC Opening Season will feature 17 exciting programmes, including the opening programme, an original Cantonese musical “HighLights – The Memories of Charles Kao”, which will premiere at The Hall on November 15.
Original Cantonese Musical “HighLights – The Memories of Charles Kao”
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The musical is directed and written by renowned writer Erica Li, with pop musician Johnny Yim as the composer and music director, and starring renowned musical actor Jordan Cheng, singers Mischa Ip, Gigi Yim, Hedy Chan, and Brian Chow.
Incorporating cutting-edge multimedia arts technology and featuring 20 delicate original pop songs, the musical chronicles the story of the father of fibre optics and Nobel Prize laureate for physics, Professor Charles Kao. As a brilliant and selfless scientist and educator, he pursued knowledge relentlessly and was steadfast in his beliefs. Kao was a devoted son, a loyal husband, and an open-minded father. In particular, his lifelong love story with his wife underscores the profound power of love and dedication in humanity.
“Lucie in the Sky”: Dancing alongside drones
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The Asia premiere of “Lucie in the Sky” is a collaboration between the Australasian Dance Collective from Australia and Swiss drone pioneer Verity Studios. With six dancers dancing alongside drones choreographed to emulate complex human emotions, the work explores and examines the delicate power dynamics, dependence, and desire between human and machine with an unprecedented stage language.
“Little Murmur”: A dance from the heart that strikes a chord within
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Performed worldwide, the acclaimed “Little Murmur” is a solo dance theatre created by British dancer-choreographer Aakash Odedra that is inspired by his childhood experiences. In collaboration with choreographer Lewis Major, the work features visual projections developed by Ars Electronica Futurelab and unique soundscape to present a journey of self-discovery filled with wondrous imagination.
“Alt-Escape”: Propels digital art performance
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Created by Canadian musician-creative duo Video Phase, “Alt-Escape” presents an inventive fusion of digital technologies and live music, with laser displays, live improvisation and body movements. With fluid rhythms, futuristic visuals and electrifying soundscapes, the show propels digital art performance and audience experience to bold new heights.
“Incremental Changes”: Diverse musical styles with synchronised imagery
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Austrian keyboardist-visual programmer Gerard Peter, making his Hong Kong debut, will perform “Incremental Changes” alongside drummer Aaron Thier to present a performance of diverse musical styles blending progressive rock, jazz, neoclassicism, and electronic music. With digitised imagery tailored for the grand opening of the EKCC, this concert blends together original music and cutting-edge technology.
Other highlights of the Opening Season include “Strangely Familiar”, a new work by Singapore’s acclaimed T.H.E Dance Company; “Pulse/Pulse/Pulse”, a multimedia performance jointly created by Dimension Plus, Jazz Society and Ivanhoe Lam; “Cankramati (Into the Macrocosm)”, a theatrical meditation production by multimedia artist Tsang Man-tung; “Song From Far Away / Far Away From Song” by Ivanhoe Lam; “The Storyville Mosquito”, a multimedia performance by Kid Koala from Canada; and “Sound Everywhere in the Universe” by Reframe Theatre.
Apart from ticketed events, there is also an array of free events to celebrate the EKCC grand opening with the public, including “Passage of Abundance” by Desmond Leung and Thomas Lo, a virtual oasis that blends music and visual arts into an interactive playground; “Bioluminescence” by Oliver Shing, an architectural projection mapping work inspired by the history of East Kowloon; a scenographic installation inspired by Time, “Tides of Time” by Wong Chi-yung; the finale showcase of the first edition of Arts Tech Trainee Programme of the EKCC, “Just Kid-ing”; and “Tecformance – 2025 Hong Kong Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism Architecture”.
Programme tickets, unless otherwise specified, will be available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) from October 3 (Friday). For details, please visit the EKCC website: www.ekcc.hk.
As a new and world-class performance venue, the EKCC is the first venue under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department committed to advocating the integration of arts and technology, as well as a flagship performance venue for long-running performances. The EKCC is not only equipped with cutting-edge professional stage technology, its facilities are designed for flexible stage setups that facilitate experimentation and innovation, fostering the development of the sector as an industry and enhancing cultural tourism. There are five performing facilities at the EKCC, namely, The Hall, suitable for large-scale events (1 200 seats); The Theatre, with a thrust stage design that creates a more intimate and interactive performance environment (536 seats); The Turns, suitable for full-wall projection to facilitate the creation of a more dynamic immersive experience in dance and theatrical productions (160 to 176 seats); The Beats, equipped with professional audio mixing, amplifying systems and soundproof walls (120 seats); and The Lab, a versatile arts technology testbed studio with flexible configurations of seats between 243 and 353.
The EKCC is located at 60 Ngau Tau Kok Road, Kowloon. For more information, please visit the EKCC website above.
“Strangely Familiar” and “The Storyville Mosquito” are also one of the programmes of Asia+ Festival 2025 and the “Cheers!” Series 2025 respectively.