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On Saturday 06 April and Sunday 07 April 2019 at the Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall, City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong (CCOHK) will stage the rerun of its award-winning musical Bug Symphony. Based on a story by Leanne Nicholls with music and lyrics by Nick Harvey and Scott Ligertwood, the show is set in a magical forest where popular comedy duo Scotty and Lulu encounter a life-sized bug orchestra conducted by a praying mantis. Bug Symphony received its world premiere in Hong Kong in 2015 to excellent reviews, was nominated for Best Large Ensemble and won the Public Choice Award at the Young Audiences Music Awards (YAMawards) in Portugal in 2017.
THE STORY
Bug Symphony tells the tale of two humans (Scotty & Lulu) who go on an adventure to the forest. While having a picnic they are interrupted by a bug orchestra rehearsing for the Queen Bee’s coronation and are tasked by the Maestro to help find the missing notes of the golden orb spider in time for the performance. During the search, they encounter a cockroach on jazz saxophone, a Broadway stinger and a deadly killer bug!
FEATURING A LIFE-SIZED BUG ORCHESTRA
The highly innovative and versatile musicians of CCOHK transform into a 20-piece bug orchestra while collaborating on stage with a dazzling cast of 30 performers in bug costumes who act, sing and dance. CCOHK takes on a dual role: providing live musical accompaniment while also interacting with the main cast as part of the story and theatrical action. Bug Symphony is edutainment at its best. Young audiences learn about an orchestra while also having fun at the theatre. The sight and sounds are spectacular with butterflies playing harp, honeybees on flute, beetles on drums, and ladybirds on violin! From the outrageous Bug Dance to the contagious Wriggle and Twist, Bug Symphony will have kids and adults dancing in the aisles!
THE CAST
Bug Symphony stars British comedy duo Scotty and Lulu who launched their massively successful children’s performing career in Hong Kong in 1994 and are well known for their energetic style combining musical comedy, acrobatics and fun. They will be joined on stage by actor/conductor Ronald Lam as Maestro Mantis, Rick Lau as the Stag Beetle, Christopher Ying as the Broadway stinging Scorpion, David Allen as the venomous Assassin Bug, Lena Cuglietta as the Cockroach playing saxophone and Leanne Nicholls as Miss Orb the Spider who spins an oboe solo from her spectacular spider web.
THE CREATIVES
Bug Symphony is produced by CCOHK's Artistic Director Leanne Nicholls with stage direction and choreography by Keith Hawley. The creative team also includes Eva Yan as lighting designer, Sunny Chan as make-up and hair designer and Ha Yan-pui as sound designer. A stunning array of bug costumes will especially highlight the creative talents of Hong Kong set & costume designer Yoki Lai.
PRE-SHOW BUZZ
45 minutes prior to each show families can enjoy some fabulous and free pre-show activities including face painting and kids’ tattoos. Herpetologist Goatee Toni from Jurassic Garage will also present a special exhibition of real-life bugs including tarantulas, stag beetles and hissing cockroaches from Madagascar!
TICKETS & DETAILS
Performed in English and lasting approximately 100 minutes with a 15-minute interval, the musical is suitable for ages three and above. Tickets priced at $550, $350 and $250 are now on sale from all URBTIX outlets with half-price concessions available for full-time students, senior citizens, people with disabilities and their minder and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. For ticketing enquiries, call 3761 6661; for credit card telephone booking, call 2111 5999; for internet booking, visit www.urbtix.hk; for programme or other enquiries, call 2864 2156 or email [email protected].
WEBSITE, TRAILER & PHOTOS
Visit the bug symphony website at www.bugsymphony.com now! A promo trailer of the show and the songs can also be viewed at YouTube. Photos for media purpose are available on Google Drive.
INTERVIEWS & MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Please contact Linda Knauer at 2864 2151 or [email protected].
Bug Symphony is financially supported by the Arts Capacity Development Funding Scheme of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The content of this programme does not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
“Out of the ordinary” Hong Kong Economic Journal
City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong (CCOHK) occupies a unique position as one of Asia’s leading chamber orchestras and as one of Hong Kong’s most dynamic cultural entities. The orchestra produces a yearly subscription season of concerts collaborating with world-class artists including Sir James Galway, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Sarah Chang and Sir Neville Marriner among others. On tour CCOHK has performed in Italy, Taipei, Beijing, Chengdu and at the 20th China Shanghai International Arts Festival. CCOHK has a great passion for developing young audiences. The orchestra platforms young local talents in its annual The Snowman & The Bear shows and has scripted numerous original family programmes including Magnificent Mozart, The Star Bach and Vivaldi Unmasked. Bug Symphony marks CCOHK’s first and exciting foray into the production of a full-scale original musical.
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