Bewitched by the delicate marionettes from Vienna in the fairy tales world

20 April 2012 (Fri) 8pm
21 April 2012 (Sat) 3pm & 8pm
Theatre, Hong Kong City Hall
$200, 160

Performed in English with Chinese surtitles

1st prize at World Festival of Puppet Art (2000 – Prague)
1st prize at 12th International Puppet Festival (2008 – Teheran)

"A musical fairy-tale – the Schönbrunn Marionettes shows Aladdin as a marionettesplay in perfection”
                                                                                    Wiener Stadtkrone, Austria

Aladdin
It is one of the tales in The Book of One Thousand and One Nights. Inside the wonder lamp lives a genie, who can make all wishes come true. Not everybody can find the lamp, only an innocent and kindhearted person like Aladdin can. The greedy magician wants to get the wonder lamp and pretends to be Aladdin’s long lost uncle and they search for the lamp together. The magician threatens not to free Aladdin from the cave unless he manages to find the lamp. Luckily, Aladdin’s best friend Koko, a parrot, rescues him. On their way home they meet a beautiful princess, Jasmine. The princess and Aladdin fall in love and want to get married, but her father, a powerful sultan, refuses. In the end, with the help of the genie from the wonder lamp, Jasmine and Aladdin get married and live happily ever after.

Hänsel & Gretel
It is a well-known fairy tale of German origin, recorded by the Brothers Grimm. One day, Hänsel and Gretel lose their way in the forest in the evening. A sandman appears and makes them fall asleep. While they are asleep the children are guarded by 14 guardian angels. The next morning when they continue their way through the forest, they discover the house of the witch, which is entirely made of gingerbread. Hänsel and Gretel cannot resist the temptation and try a bit of the gingerbread. Suddenly the witch appears and casts a spell on them, and traps them like other children. Gretel is able to trick the old witch who ends up in the oven and is turned into gingerbread herself. When the spell is broken, all children who had been turned into gingerbread by the wicked witch are free again and happily return to their parents.

Marionettes Workshop by Marionettentheater Schloss Schönbrunn (Austria)
Conducted in English with Cantonese interpretation

Participants will learn about how marionettes are produced and moved, follow by a short performance -- Humorous Duet for Two Cats by Gioachino Rossini. Participants will also have the chance to try controlling the delicate marionettes.

22 April 2012 (Sun) 4pm
Cultural Activities Hall, Tsuen Wan Town Hall
$50

Recommended for audience of age 4 or above, below age 3 are not permitted
Standard price ticket, each ticket admits one person only
The workshop lasts for about 60 minutes without intermission

The experienced marionette-players, Christine Hierzer and Werner Hierzer founded a touring theatre company in 1991. The company moved into Schönbrunn Palace in 1994 and the Palace became a permanent venue for holding company’s year-round performances. The company was renamed as Marionettentheater Schloss Schönbrunn. In 1995, they set up a training centre for talented marionette-players in Schönbrunn.

Having mesmerized audiences from all over the world, the Marionettentheater Schloss Schönbrunn boosts Hong Kong audiences with a gala of music, dance, fast-moving action and colourful set and costumes. It has performed in many cities and won critical acclaim. The company had won praises as Cultural Ambassadors of Vienna.

The programme lasts for about 100 minutes including an intermission of 20 minutes

Tickets available from 25 February onwards at all URBTIX outlets, on Internet and by Credit Card Telephone Booking

Discount Scheme
Half-price tickets available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and the minder, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients (Limited tickets for CSSA recipients available on a first-come-first-served basis). Concessionary ticket holders must produce evidence of their identity or age upon admission*

Family Fun Discount*
10% off for each purchase of standard tickets for any 2 different programmes; 15% off for each purchase of standard tickets for any 3 different programmes of Aladdin & Hänsel & Gretel (abridged version) by Marionettentheatre Schloss Schönbrunn (Austria), The Firebird by International Purves Puppets (UK) and PSY by The 7 Fingers (Canada)

Group Booking Discount*
10% off for each purchase of 4-9 standard tickets;
15% off for each purchase of 10-19 standard tickets;
20% off for each purchase of 20 or more standard tickets

Each ticket admits one person only. Patrons can enjoy only one of the above discount schemes for each purchase. Please inform the box office staff at the time of purchase

*All discounts are not applicable to Marionettes Workshop by Marionettentheater Schloss Schönbrunn (Austria)

Internet Booking: www.urbtix.hk
Credit Card Telephone Booking: 2111 5999
Ticketing Enquiries: 2734 9009
Programme Enquiries: 2268 7323

Audience of age 5 or above are welcome, below age 3 are not permitted.

Audience are strongly advised to arrive punctually. No latecomers will be admitted until intermission or a suitable break in the programme
The contents of this programme do not represent the views of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department
The presenter reserves the right to substitute artists and change the programme should unavoidable circumstances make it necessary