No Limits

EVENT DESCRIPTION

In response to the uncertainties brought about by the pandemic, this signature project will present a series of online programmes free of charge, featuring outstanding local and international artists of different abilities, to allow more members of the public to enjoy the programmes. Some of the online screenings are available from today upon registration.

“No Limits”, co-presented by the Hong Kong Arts Festival and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, aims to nurture a barrier-free environment and promote inclusiveness and understanding through the arts. “In the past three years, we have witnessed the perseverance of artists with different abilities in overcoming many obstacles to achieve their goals,” says Ms Tisa Ho, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Arts Festival. “We are captivated by the high artistic levels they attained and fascinated by the audience’s increasing embrace of inclusive arts. Being a part of ‘No Limits’ is an honour for us, as we partner with Charities and Community of The Hong Kong Jockey Club to co-present this annual gala, and work with different stakeholders to pay tribute to the achievements of the artists.”

The fourth edition of “No Limits” opens with three exciting online programmes which include The Deaf Entertainers Documentary – “See What I’m Saying”, a heartfelt celebration of deaf culture and the people who produce it. An emotional tribute to resilience and the power of entertainment as you’ve never seen before. A fresh take on science fiction film from Switzerland’s Theater HORA that features actors with cognitive impairment, brings you on a fantastic journey to a galaxy–“Planet HORA”–where things are different, and it’s no bad thing. Adapted by award-winning playwright Bryony Lavery, a bold, brutal and beautiful new version of “Oliver Twist” by Leeds Playhouse in association with Ramps on the Moon specialising in inclusive shows with deaf actors and actors with disabilities, is an unforgettable experience, showing a timeless classic in a new light.

More programmes will be available from 23 March including:

From Taiwan comes two filmed performances from piano duo John Vaughan and visually-impaired pianist Hsu Tse-chen. In “Do you See What I Hear?” a crosstalk concert is a portrait of the teacher-and-student duo and the perspectives of the sighted and the visually impaired on music and daily life. “Using Music to Paint a Picture” offers a music exploration concert which showcases musical experiments and the imaginative power of music.

Based on a true story in Cambodia, Epic Arts’ “Buffalo Boy” is a thrilling tribute to courage and fortitude. Performed by six Cambodian dancers with disabilities, “Lost for Words” is a charming piece of physical theatre that will delight audiences of all ages.

Ad Infinitum’s “Extraordinary Wall of Silence” is a stirring tribute to the power and beauty of British Sign Language. This portrait of the hearing-impaired is an enthalling look at some of the lesser-known aspects of a fascinating subject.

A playful wordless performance by the dancers with different disabilities of Swedish group Danskompaniet Spinn, “Miramos” will take you on a magical journey outside of time, full of colour and imagination.

There will also be a fantastic opportunity to hear the magnificent Nicholas McCarthy play the music of Ravel and Britten with the Manchester Camerata under the baton of Gábor Takács-Nagy.

Three in-venue programmes will not take place as scheduled and will be postponed or changed to online viewing. The further information will be launched on the No Limits website. “Yang Enhua – A New Vision of Huqin” by a talented up-and-coming young musician with visual impairment, tells his Hong Kong story through Chinese music. Written by award-winning composer and lyricist Austin Yip, the original Cantonese chamber opera “Por Por” is a moving account of how dementia and depression affects elderly sufferers and those who care for them. Directed by the award-winning UK-based choreographer Mickael “Marso” Riviere, “Phantoms Within” explores the limits of physicality through hip-hop and contemporary dance with dancers of different abilities from Europe and Hong Kong.

For details, please see the “No Limits” website: https://www.nolimits.hk/en/programmes/

Outreach programmes
Complementing the performance programme is the Jockey Club “No Limits” Education and Community Programme, designed to enrich experiences of inclusive arts in the community. This outreach programme has received excellent feedback from students, teachers and other beneficiaries, and is expected to reach an even wider public and offer more opportunities for people of different abilities to appreciate, embrace and take part in the arts.

This year’s outreach programme comprises a diverse offering of online activities: a Roundtable Discussion on Sustainable Practices in Nurturing Disability Arts; a School Tour Screening of “Little Kong” and the Music Animation “My Incredible Friend”; an Artists-in-Residence Programme with Daniele Ninarello from Italy; a Workshop Series offering Train-the-Trainer workshops in music and theatre, and others in arts appreciation and dance; and a series of Beyond Limits activities including meet-the-artists sessions and talks.
For details of outreach activities, please visit: https://www.nolimits.hk/en/outreach/

Arts Accessibility Services
“No Limits” continues to provide a comprehensive range of Arts Accessibility Services, with support from the Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong, to enable audiences from different backgrounds to enjoy the programmes. These include Hong Kong Sign Language, theatrical interpretation, audio descriptions in Cantonese and English, accessible captions in Chinese and English, house programmes in Braille and recorded formats, and guide dog-friendly venues, among others.

ABOUT THE ARTIST / ORGANISER

Co-presented by the Hong Kong Arts Festival and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the “No Limits” project aims to create a barrier-free environment enabling artists and audiences to explore and promote inclusiveness and understanding through the arts. Art is not bound by one’s ability, but limited only by one’s imagination. Launched in 2019, “No Limits” invites members of the community to experience performances by international and local artists of different abilities that defy constraints and boundaries.

“No Limits” also invests heavily in arts education for young people; diverse experiences and educational programmes are designed to nurture students’ interest in the arts, and to enable them to share the joy of the arts together with people of different abilities.