Documentary or ethnographic theatre is based on real interviews or existing documentation and literature. This approach differs from traditional fictional theatre in terms of writing, directing and acting. This series of workshops will explore each these three elements separately. Participants may join individual modules according to their interests. If they join all of them, they will gain a more comprehensive understanding of this technique, which is becoming increasingly popular. 

Modern theatre is no longer confined to a particular form, and the technique or spirit of documentary theatre has permeated various theatre productions. Even if participants will not be engaged in documentary theatre in the future, they will still be able to gain insights that can be applied to other types of theatre productions.

Directing Unit:
Documentary/ethnographic theatre does not have as clear a time and space as traditional scripts do, and there is often no traditional story to rely on. Representing already-made materials is a major challenge for directors. Pants Theatre Production’s Artistic Director Wu Hoi Fai has directed and translated numerous local documentary/ ethnographic theatre works. He will share his experience and discuss directing documentary/ ethnographic theatre with concrete examples.

Performance Unit:
What are the differences between the roles in documentary/ ethnographic theatre and those of traditional fictional scripts? Wu Hoi Fai has led actors of varying skill-levels to perform different types of documentary/ethnographic theatre texts. He will share his experience and discuss the characteristics of documentary/ethnographic theatre performance.

Playwriting Unit:
Documentary/ethnographic theatre writers are often confronted with a large volume of information. Playwright Callas Cheang has successfully tackled high volumes of information in researching the relationships between fathers and sons for Fantasia on Fathers and Sons and the work of end-of-life carers in  Eternal Flame in the Dark. Shewill beguide participantss to compile a theatre play.

Wu Hoi Fai

Instructor

Wu Ho Fai is the artistic director and co-founder of Pants Theatre Production, an examiner of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, and a head adjudicator of the Hong Kong School Drama Festival.  

Wu has degrees from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (BA in English), the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (BFA in Drama – Directing), and the Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London (MA in Advanced Theatre Practice – Dramaturgy). He is a recipient of the Yiqingzhai Foundation Arts Fellowship, the Asian Cultural Council, Outstanding Young Director Award from the 2001 Hong Kong Drama Awards, and the Award of the Secretary for Home Affairs’ Commendation Scheme in 2017.

Callas Cheang

Instructor

Founder of Big Ear Story, playwright, occupational therapist, picture book author, picture book tutor, and more.

Cheang obtained the Master of Fine Arts in Drama (Distinction) from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, majoring in playwriting. Her plays include Angel's Gift, The Story of Leaping Fish, Sweet Mandarin, An Unjust Good Fellow, Fantasia on Fathers and Sons, An Unforgettable Chapter, 7402 and Experiment of Love – Harry Harlow. 

Latest Picture Book: My Unwanted Guest

Ticketing Info

Free to the public. Register here from 13 March onwards.

This programme 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