Category — United Kingdom

CHi2 presents Monkey King – a modern Beijing Opera
Fri 2 & Sat 3 Oct at 8pm
Venue 1, Rich Mix, London
£15/£12 (advanced)

Fusing the worlds of electro-acoustic music, film-making and story-telling, CHi2 (Liz & Sarah Liew)’s exciting multi-media production is based on the classic Chinese tale of Monkey King. With special guest for London dates only, tabla maestro Kuljit Bhamra.

Booking: 020 7613 7498 / www.richmix.org.uk/bookings
Group ticket offer: buy 9 tickets get the 10th free

‘Double – violin assault specialists’ CHi2 provide a brand new spin on the classic Chinese tale of Monkey King. Celebrating the richness and colour of Beijing Opera and re – interpreted for the modern day, CHi2 have created an edgy musical cocktail of traditional and modern sounds, fusing together acoustic and electric instruments, digital media and one of the world’s most ancient art forms with a unique contemporary twist, to create a stunning show that bursts with colour and vibrancy.

The story is based on the sixteenth century classic Chinese folk epic novel, Monkey: Journey To The West, to which CHi2 have composed an original soundtrack, complemented by the filmic interpretation of the storyline by filmmakers Michele Rosaus and Steve Teers, whilst award – winning composer Tom E Morrison has produced the score. The drama both aurally and visually, is enhanced by the interaction of actor/narrator Tom Wu as he employs spoken word, narration and his expertise in kung fu to convey the thrill – seeking adventures of the storyline.

For more information see www.chi2.co.uk/monkey or www.richmix.org.uk/aandc_chi2.htm

Book your tickets online at www.richmix.org.uk/bookings
or call the Rich Mix Box Office on 020 7613 7498

London’s Chinatown Art Space presents Piccadilly Revisited, a free outdoor film and live music performance which is part of the Thames Festival.

(Image via BFI Stills, Posters and Designs)

Piccadilly Revisited will take place on Saturday 12th September (2009) between 8.15pm – 10pm on the east-facing facade of the Royal Festival Hall.
About the performance

Piccadilly Revisited is a film and music performance inspired by the life and loves of Hollywood’s first Chinese film star, Anna May Wong, and the classic British silent movie Piccadilly (1929) in which she played a starring role.

Composers Suki Mok and Ruth Chan will perform their new contemporary score to the backdrop of an outdoor screening of the silent film, Piccadilly.

The score is based on a storyboard developed by co-writers Alice Lee and David Tse Ka-Shing.

Wong is the only Asian-American actress with a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. She worked with Dietrich and Olivier, graced the pages of Vogue, Tatler and Vanity Fair, and the song These Foolish Things was written for her. She has experienced a renaissance in recent years, and Chinatown Arts Space is delighted to celebrate her achievements in Piccadilly, her seminal film directed by E.A. Dupont.

“Bold, beautifully crafted…one of the truly great films of the silent era”
Martin Scorsese

The performance on 12th September is the first work-in-progress showing of a cross-artform production to be completed next year, which will incorporate dance, drama and video against a backdrop of the original silent movie.

The completed work will explore the contradictions of Anna May Wong’s life, the impact of the stereotyped ‘orientalist’ roles on offer, and liberate Anna May Wong’s spirit through the intervention of a team of British East Asian artists. Contemporary sensibilities will bring a fresh, vibrant interpretation to the film and her life. Like a Chinese ‘hungry ghost’ coming back to right a wrong, these modern mediums will exorcise her demons and satisfy all appetites.

For more information and to join the CAS mailing list, please visit: www.chinatownartsspace.com

Technorati Tags: Alice Lee, Anna May Wong, Chinatown Arts Space, David Tse Ka-Shing, film, live music, music, Piccadilly Revisited, Thames Festival, Ruth Chan, Suki Mok, United Kingdom

Monkey King – A Modern Beijing Opera. Celebrating the richness and colour of Beijing Opera and re-interpreted for the modern day, Chi2 have created a visually and musically exciting show, blending digital media and music.

The story is based on sixteenth century classic Chinese epic novel, Monkey: Journey To The West, to which Chi2 have composed an original soundtrack, complemented by a filmic interpretation of the storyline.

OneInchPunch has personally experienced Chi2’s Monkey King Show and if you’re able to make it, it is not to be missed!

Chi2 MONKEY KING AUTUMN UK TOUR DATES for SEPT / OCT 2009

Fri 18 Sept – DERBY
Assembly Rooms, Market Place, Derby, DE1 3AH
01332 25580
www.assemblyrooms-derby.co.uk

Sat 19 Sept – CUMBRIA
Kirkgate Theatre Cockermouth, Cumbria, The Lake District
01900 826448
www.thekirkgate.com

Tues 29 Sept – LEICESTER
De Montfort Hall, Granville Road, Leicester
0116 233 3111
www.demontforthall.co.uk

Wed 30 Sept – HEMEL HEMPSTEAD
The Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead
01442 228091
www.theoldtownhall.co.uk

Fri 2 Oct – LONDON
Rich Mix, 35 – 47 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch London
020 7613 7498
www.richmix.org.uk

Sat 3 Oct – LONDON
Rich Mix, 35 – 47 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch London
020 7613 7498
www.richmix.org.uk

Tues 6 Oct – CHELTENHAM
Everyman Theatre, 7-10 Regent Street, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
01242 57257
www.everymantheatre.org.uk

Technorati Tags: A Modern Beijing Opera, Beijing Opera, Chi 2, entertainment, music, United Kingdom

Man Cheung is a London based photographer who posts one photo everyday and plans to do so for the rest of his life.

Via Not Cot

Technorati Tags: Man Cheung, photography, United Kingdom

In preparation for my year long trip abroad to Hong Kong, I’ve completely missed any Chinese New Year Celebrations in London. I’ve managed to get a little flavour from photos from the BBC website…

See more UK Chinese New Year photos on the BBC

Technorati Tags: 2009 Year of the Ox, Chinese New Year, London, United Kingdom

Previously posted Zoë Baxter returns to Resonance 104.4 FM on 6th January for Lucky Cat series 3.

This weekly, live, one hour, magazine style radio programme focuses on Chinese and East Asian culture. Previous shows have included a feature on the Chinese contribution to Reggae, a live performance by Korean punk band Crying Nut, interviews with cultural arts organisers and a live freestyle performance from Dragon Tongue Squad (Beijing rappers).
Every week a new recipe will be tried and tasted in regular feature The Dim Sum Lunchbox.

Zoë Baxter started DJing at parties in 2000 and progressed to Internet radio and then community radio. She has always had a keen interest in East Asian cinema and cuisine and this lead her to investigate East Asian music. Now she is a collector of vinyl with a specialist interest in 1960’s ‘Asia Beat’.

In 2005 Zoë presented and produced Ni Hao Chinatown parts 1 & 2 for the London community arts radio station Resonance FM focusing on the Save Chinatown Campaign and the history of Chinese immigration in London.

Following on from this Zoë has presented and produced 2 series of her programme Lucky Cat for Resonance FM.

Recently Zoë was asked to contribute a one hour mix for BBC Lancashire’s specialist music programme On the Wire.

Zoë has held club nights for Chinese and Thai New Years as well as other themed club nights.

Listen to Zoë and the Lucky Cat series 3 on Resonance FM

Read more about Zöe Baxter on VisibleChinese.com

Check out Zöe’s blog at luckykitty.blogspot.com

Listen to the Lucky Cat podcast at Podomatic

Technorati Tags: Lucky Cat, Lucky Cat series 3, magazine style radio programme, radio, Resonance FM, Zöe Baxter

CBBC are casting an exciting kung-fu action fantasy television series and are looking for young British-born Chinese to play the lead roles in the new Children’s Drama – BO AND THE SPIRIT WORLD:

Bo – Female, aged 11-16 Confident, sporty and a born leader

Timothy – Male, aged 9-12 Cheeky, Quick-witted and energetic

Bo and Timothy are on a school trip when they are suddenly transported to a magical ’spirit world’. Here they become superpowered spirit warriors, on a quest to save the world. It’s good versus evil in an epic struggle inspired by Chinese mythology and folklore.

This is a fantastic opportunity to explore what it means to be British Chinese today and to create a role model for your community. Above all, it is a chance of a lifetime for two young people to have an amazing experience at the heart of a major new BBC Children’s Drama.

If you are interested and would like more information email us at boandtimothy@bbc.co.uk or visit our website at www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc live from 1st January ‘09.

For parental enquiries, please call David Tse (casting advisor) on 07931 764 840 (10-6pm Weekdays)

Technorati Tags: BO AND THE SPIRIT WORLD, CBBC

Yellow Earth Theatre is a London based British East Asian touring theatre company, revenue funded by Arts Council England. I built their first website more than 8 years ago, and now, I’ve just redesigned and rebuilt their new one!

It’s now fully dynamic with a massive Archive section that contains photographs, videos and the synopsis of their past productions.

I’m quite proud of the site, so if you’re interested in theatre, particularly in relation to East-Asia, then please do click over and check it out!

YellowEarth.org

Technorati Tags: arts, British Chinese, entertainment, theatre, United Kingdom, Yellow Earth Theatre

Hundreds of video game fans have dressed as characters from their favourite games to set a world record.

A total of 342 gamers dressed as icons from games such as Final Fantasy, Zelda and Metal Gear Solid in east London as part of the London Games Festival. They narrowly broke a record of 337 set last week in Germany.

The record was verified by Guinness World Records at the Excel Centre in Docklands on Saturday.

Read more on the BBC website

Technorati Tags: entertainment, Guinness World Record, London Games Festival, United Kingdom

New restaurant Inamo, in London’s Wardour Street sounds like an interesting techie East-Asian destination for the night. It’s a restaurant that uses individual hi-tech ordering systems where you can click your choices to order.

You can also apparently, change the design of your table, see into the kitchen or play games!

See more on the Inamo Restaurant website

Technorati Tags: cuisine, hi-tech ordering, Inamo Restaurant, restaurant, United Kingdom