Introduction
Hong Kong Theatre of the Deaf was officially founded in 1989 upon the inspiration from The National Theatre of the Deaf when it paid an exchange visit to Hong Kong in 1986, encouraging expressions of artists’ feelings through mime and body movement.
Hong Kong Theatre of the Deaf has been performing its original plays through mime and body language to the public, as well as volunteering to perform in rehab occasions. The art troupe co-operated with renowned theatre workers including directors Kelvin Ho Ying Fung, Desmond Tang Wai Kit and Tang Shu Wing, Mike Canfield, Artistic Director of Australia Theatre of the Deaf and Daniel Chumley, Artistic Director of the San Francisco Mime Troupe, Anonymous Troupe, Bestreben Drama Association and We Draman Group.
Apart from performing in local communities, Hong Kong Theatre of the Deaf frequently exchanges ideas and co-performs with overseas troupes, among which they gained great success while working with Mike Canfield in the creation of two popular plays: “No More Lesser” and “Creation”. “Creation” is a poetic theatrical play that establishes visual communication with the audience, and was performed itinerantly in Japan and USA. The troupe also received positive acclaim in its performance of “Beauty and the Beast” in “The 1st International Festival of Inclusive Arts” in 2006. Tong Man Shan, Deputy Director of the troupe was invited by the ADA to participate in QuestFest in 2010, in which Tong performed a Chinese literary classic “Journey to the West”.
Awards
2000
1st runner up (Duet) and Best Story Award, “The Deaf Theatre Competition”, Czech Republic
1995
Best Cooperation Prize and Best Overall Performance Prize (Play: “The End?”), “The 4th Hong Kong Abilympics”
1993-1994
“The Ten Most Popular TV Shows” (Film: “Wordless Thanks”), Cable TV
1992
Silver Prize (Play: “Always Together–Glass Wall”), “The 17th World Disabled Film Festival”
Experience
2011
“Journey to the West” (Re-run), Hong Kong
2011
“Communicate with Sign Language”, (Sign Language Playlet: “Art Numbers”), Hong Kong Sign Lanuage Association
2010
“The 2nd Hong Kong Deaf Festival” Opening Ceremony, The 2nd Hong Kong Deaf Festival Preparatory Committee
2010
“QuestFest 2010” (Deputy Director Tong Man Shan), Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong (ADA), United States
2009
“Hong Kong Mime Festival 2009 - Contemporary Hong Kong”, Mime Touch Theatre
2009
“The 1st Hong Kong Deaf Festival” Opening Ceremony (Play: “Unfold Potential – Glorify Deaf Culture”, The 1st Hong Kong Deaf Festival Preparatory Committee 2008 “2008 International Day of Disabled Persons – Arts for Everyone, Better Tomorrow”, Social Welfare Bureau of MSAR Government-Rehabilitation Service Division, Macau
2008
“Beauty and the Beast”, ADA
2007
“The 7th International Abilympics – IA 2007 Work Fair” Demonstration and Exhibition (Play: “Beauty
and the Beast”), Japan
2006
“The 1st International Festival of Inclusive Arts-Stage to Craze” (Play: “Beauty and the Beast”), co-presented by Health, Welfare and Food Bureau and ADA
2002
“East Rail Art Trips” (Play:“An Anecdote”), co-presented by Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation and ADA
2002
“Deaf Way II – International Arts Festival” (Play:“Creation”), Gallaudet University, United States
2000
“No Boundary between the Disabled and Able-bodied Concert 2000” (Play:“Impromptu Body Performance”), Home Affairs Department Wan Chai District Office
2000
“15 Strings of Cash”with San Francisco Mime Troupe, presented by ADA and organised by Leisure and Cultural Services Department
2000
“European and International Deaf Theater Festival” (Play: “Creation”), ARBOS-Company fo Music and Theatre, Austria Vienna
1999
“Art in MTR-Living Art” (Play:“Impromptu Body Performance” and “Listen with Eyes, Speak with Hands”)
1999
“Heart as Ears”
1999
“International Deaf Theatres Event”(Play:“Creation”) , Australian Association of the Deaf, Australia Brisbane
1999
Project “Disabled Arts Area of Asia Pacific Region – Visual Communication Theatre Workshop”, Japan
1999
“Disabled Arts Show” (Play:“Deaf Experience”), Hong Kong
1998
“1998 International VSA Festival” (Play:“Creation”), USA
1998
“Creation” (touring performance), Macau and Hong Kong
1998
“Hong Kong International Exhibition on Rehabilitation” (Play:“Tourist”), The Hong Kong Council of
Social Service
1998
“The Theft of the Spririt”
1998
“Cultural Plaza” (Play:“Fish”), TVB
1997
“The Crazy City”, Hong Kong and Japan
1997
“No More Lesser”
1997
“Hearing Impaired Persons and Arts Activities – Equal Opportunities Forum and Theatre Workshop Demonstration” (Play:“Deaf Experience”)
1996
“ARTability 96” (Play:“The Warriers (New)”), co-presented by ADA and Hong Kong Housing Authority
1996
Joint Performance with Osaka Pantomime Group from Japan (Play:“The Fraternal Twins & The Warriers (New))
1995
“Theatre, Music, Dance Itinerantly Performance” (Play:“The End?”), ADA
1995
“International Abilympics – Shining Theatre” (Play: The End?”), Australia
1992
Joint Performance with The Phyzikal Theatre from Canada (Play:“Shade –Journey of Macbeth”)
1990
“Life without Human Rights” (Play: “Life without Human Rights”), Hong Kong Human Rights Commission
1990
“City Fraud”
1990
“Searching for the Dog”
1989
“Something to tell”
1988-1989
“The Stupid Vampire”
1988
TV Show“Outstanding Disabled Persons”, RTHK
1987
“Disabled Performance 87” (Play:“Fierce Dog Inside”), co-presented by The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation, ADA and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
1987
“Bridge – An Impressive Party” (Play:“The Deaf Tree”)
