WestK FunFest

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Presented by WestK Performing Arts, the third WestK FunFest (FunFest) (19 March – 12 April) officially opens on 19 March. Spanning the Easter holidays, this year’s FunFest brings together top arts groups and performers from Australia, Spain, the UK and Hong Kong to present more than 120 diverse programmes at West Kowloon Cultural District (“WestK” or “the District”). A key highlight is the large-scale interactive art installation The Cats that Slept for a Thousand Years, created by renowned UK creative studio Air Giants, which is open to the public free of charge at the Harbourside East Lawn of WestK’s Art Park until 7 April.

The centerpiece of this year’s Festival, The Cats that Slept for a Thousand Years, from the renowned UK creative studio Air Giants, makes its Asian debut on WestK’s Harbourside East Lawn. Following its commission by Manchester Museum in the UK, this marks the installation’s first exhibition outside Europe. Specifically for FunFest, the Air Giants team has expanded the installation from the original single 10-metre-long giant cat into a cat family consisting of two big cats and a kitten.

Blending sound, light and interactive elements, the artwork features giant inflatable cats with gently swaying tails. Visitors are invited to cuddle up to the cats or softly stroke their bodies to hear and feel their soothing purrs and rhythmic heartbeats. The work aims to create a tranquil oasis amidst the bustling city, fostering warm connections between people. It explores themes of care and empathy while allowing visitors to rediscover their childlike wonder through interaction with the cats. FunFest has launched a series of themed merchandise to tie in with the installation, including tote bags, stickers, magnets and pins.

Over the course of FunFest, WestK will present over 120 cultural and family-oriented art programmes throughout the District, including the Art Park, Freespace and Xiqu Centre, more than 60 of which will be free programmes, pop-up performances and workshops:
• Freespace will be turned into a vibrant playground, creating fun for all generations: The Terrace will be converted into a retro-style playground, reviving classic games such as hopscotch and rock-paper-scissors along with giant dice and a bean bag toss. Live DJ performances will be featured over the Easter weekend, elevating the festive atmosphere. Inside the Studio, visitors can experience VJYourself!, an interactive video dance installation by Playmodes Studio, an audiovisual team from Barcelona. As visitors move freely in front of the camera, sensors will capture their actions in real-time and instantly generate corresponding projection effects, experiencing an improvised performance that blends visuals with dance;
• Pop-up performances include parades led by musician Floro Sernande, Brazilian percussion group Salvaje, igniting a carnival atmosphere with their vibrant samba rhythms; as seen on the talent show 1 Take, Hong Kong’s Double Dutch group ROPSSY will showcase high-difficulty skipping stunts combined with dance, incorporating flashy moves like flips within the rapidly moving double ropes; SANKOFA will present a Capoeira Angola performance that perfectly demonstrates the fusion of strength and rhythm;
•The Tea House Theatre Family Experience, presented by the Tea House Rising Stars Troupe, and complimentary Cantonese Opera Movement Workshops will be staged at the Xiqu Centre on 28 and 29 March. Led by emerging Cantonese opera actress Hilvinn Wong, participants can put on the water sleeves, explore basic hand and finger movements and play out simple emotions to get a first-hand experience of the rich traditions of Cantonese opera.

Since 2019, WestK Performing Arts has spearheaded the Arts Impact Fellowship, supporting local young practitioners, educators, researchers and arts administrators to realise original initiatives that inspire positive change, community engagement and audience-building through the performing arts. This year, FunFest presents public programmes developed from the projects of two fellowship recipients from 11 to 12 April:
• Curated by Ho Tsz-kwan, dancer, arts administrator and member of the Hong Kong Locking dance crew The Quickies, the participatory street dance performance The Rhythm of Souls brings together three street dance artists and teaching assistants to guide teenagers with no prior dance experience on a journey of self-discovery. Dancers will interact with sound installations to generate unique soundscapes that echo their movements, creating an environment where the audience can engage in simple physical actions and explore the relationship between body, rhythm and sound.
• Mushroom Fantasy, co-created by artist and dramaturg Alysa Leung, local juggling group and community performers aged 8 to 80, is a performance that blends juggling, theatre and community arts. Using everyday objects to spark creativity, the show uses lighthearted juggling acts to bridge generations and build a sustainable community arts network.

In addition to the free programmes, FunFest also features a range of fascinating ticketed programmes presented by renowned arts groups, including:
• Acclaimed Australian puppet theatre company Spare Parts Puppet Theatre will stage the award‑winning Rules of Summer at the Xiqu Centre on 28 and 29 March. Adapted from the work of the bestselling picture book by Shaun Tan, the Australian-Chinese Oscar winner and master illustrator, the performance features humorous and vivid storytelling, exquisite puppetry craftsmanship and stage effects to create a unique sensory experience. Philip Mitchell, Artistic Director of the theatre, will conduct a marionette workshop on how to use puppets for captivating performances.
• Contemporary dance company Barrowland Ballet from Glasgow in the UK will stage the dance story theatre performance Tiger Tale at Freespace on 28 and 29 March. The story is about a tiger who unexpectedly bursts into the life of an ordinary family, completely overturning their dull existence. Audiences will be immersed in a dynamic space filled with music, colour and scent, watching three dancers tumble and leap up close. Embracing the principle of inclusivity, the artistic team presents Playful Tiger, an adapted version designed for neurodivergent children and teenagers, allowing them to explore the space in their own way.
• Barcelona-based La petita malumaluga returns to Hong Kong to present Bob Marley for Babies, at Freespace from 3 to 6 April. Designed for infants and toddlers aged up to 36 months, this performance pays tribute to Bob Marley, the iconic 1970s musician and reggae legend, featuring fresh rearrangements of his classic hits, including One Love, No Woman, No Cry and Redemption Song. Combining music and dance with rich multisensory elements, the performance offers a comfortable environment for babies and parents to create special memories, making it perfect for families across generations to enjoy together.
Barcelona-based circus company Animal Religion will present the participatory performance To copy at the Xiqu Centre from 3 to 6 April. Children will be invited to observe and imitate the performer’s moves while interacting with stage lights and sound effects, challenging their immediate reactions and limb coordination. This work aims to explore the importance of imitation in children’s growth and social interaction. After its acclaimed premiere in Spain in 2024, To copy was recognised as the Best Immersive Show of the year at the International Festival of Theatre for Children and Young People (FETEN) in 2025.
• Co-presented by WestK and local non-profit arts collective ALAN (Artists who Love Animals and Nature), the immersive story theatre Snowmelt will be staged from 10 to 12 April. The work invites international artists to participate, including Japanese physical artist Hikaru Kawasaki, German bouldering athlete and dancer Janosch Horn, and Israeli-Spanish dancer Yuval Finkelshtein, alongside local young artist and member of the Kwok’s Kung Fu & Dragon Lion Dance Team Goofy Yeung (Thaimay). Through elements of acrobatics, dance, martial arts, puppetry and interactive visuals, the work leads the audience into a frozen secret realm to join a contemporary story theatre experience regarding the resilience and diversity of life. The performance features a free digital art exhibition from 3 to 6 April, combining interactive installations and mixed reality (MR) elements, allowing the audience to reconnect with nature through art, movement and imagination.
• The Hong Kong Sinfonietta makes its debut at FunFest for the meticulously curated This is Classical Music?! series, presenting three exciting programmes: Michael and His Incredible Music Machine, Pop Surprise! and Immortally Beloved. The series brings together overseas and local musicians, including Berlin-based jazz vocalist and improviser Michael Schiefel, Music Director Emeritus Yip Wing-sie, conductor Vivian Ip, multi-talented composer and performer Anna Lo, and a cappella group the Yat Po Singers.

FunFest is supported by Cathay as Travel Partner; ELEMENTS as Mall Partner; the GREAT Britain & Northern Ireland Campaign and the British Council Hong Kong as Supporting Partner; and Octone Foundation and Our Hong Kong Foundation as Community Partners.