--- id: "entity-49-en" name: "Ivor Houlker" type: "artist" subtitle: "Mutlidisciplinary theatre artist" liveUrl: "https://www.rooftopproductions.hk/en/artist/ivor-houlker" socials: ["website: https://ivorhoulker.com", "email: ivor@rooftopproductions.hk", "instagram: https://instagram.com/ivorhoulker", "artmate: https://www.art-mate.net/doc/12051?lang=en", "twitter: https://x.com/ivorhoulker", "bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ivorhoulker.bsky.social", "linkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/ivorhoulker"] --- # Ivor Houlker **Mutlidisciplinary theatre artist** ## Biography Ivor Houlker is a multidisciplinary theatre artist, who works internationally as a director, actor, musician, and programmer. He specialises in hybrid forms involving technology, as well as physical theatre and site-specific performances. His work often involves live music, chorus, multimedia projection, sound installation, and audience interaction. Since 2014 his work has incorporated programming and developing original apps to support interactive work. Recent works also include original real-time online platforms and to enable new forms of live interaction. Ivor is a founder and artistic director of [Rooftop Productions](https://rooftopproductions.hk/) in Hong Kong. Ivor’s own work has been shown in London, Hong Kong, Edinburgh, Brighton, Prague, Palermo, Epidaurus, Wrocław, Warsaw and Lublin. He has worked with many famous theatre groups and independent theatre artists around Europe, such as OPT Gardzienice, The Grotowski Centre, Andrzej Wełmiński (Cricot2), Mischa Twitchin (Shunt), Helen Chadwick (Song Theatre), Andrea Cusumano. Ivor’s movement training comes from different masters in Europe: Włodzimierz Staniewski (Gardzienice), Jerzy Grotowski, and Tadeusz Kantor. He also teaches workshops in physical theatre, actor training and polyphonic singing. ## Previous Shows - **Karaoke** (8 – 9 Jan 2026) — *Roles: Director, Creator* In Karaoke, Rooftop Productions’ Michelle Li presents a devised solo work exploring identity through archival stories, Canto pop, and family memories. - **History Play** (30 Oct – 2 Nov 2025) — *Roles: Creator, Promotion Photographer, Performer* History Play Rehearsed Reading is a bold devised work reimagining Shakespeare’s Richard II through a genre-defying mix of rap, metal, and Cantonese opera. - **Karaoke ** (15 Oct 2024) — *Roles: Creator, Director* Karaoke is a devised work by Rooftop Productions. Michelle Li uses song to navigate Hong Kong’s modern history, memory, and personal identity. - **Songs of Innocence and Experience** (27 Jan – 4 Feb 2024) — *Roles: Director, Music Director* Songs of Innocence and Experience is a vibrant devised work from Rooftop Productions, exploring the tumultuous journey to adulthood in contemporary HK. - **Presence** (17 – 26 Mar 2023) — *Roles: Programmer* Presence Phase 2 is an immersive telepresence performance. Control robotic vehicles to explore real-world sites and unlock stories in this hybrid work. - **Songs of Innocence and Experience** (20 – 24 Jun 2022) — *Roles: Director, Promotion Photographer* Songs of Innocence and Experience at HKAPA is a poignant devised work exploring the threshold of adulthood, reimagining Milton’s themes of rebellion. - **Presence** (22 – 28 Mar 2022) — *Roles: Programmer* Presence Phase 1: An immersive remote theatre experience by Rooftop Productions. Navigate physical spaces via ROV to explore agency, space, and exile. - **We Still Dance** (18 Nov – 30 Dec 2021) — *Roles: Director, Promotion Photographer* We Still Dance: Explore Tsuen Wan via immersive digital theatre. Rooftop Productions merges contemporary dance with AR tech to unveil the city’s past. - **Testimony** (15 – 18 Aug 2019) — *Roles: Musician, Promotion Photographer, Music Director, Director* Testimony is a powerful devised work exploring the invisible history of Hong Kong's South Asian community, challenging systemic exclusion through art. - **The Furies Variations** (7 – 9 Dec 2018) — *Roles: Promotion Photographer, Musician, Director, Music Director* The Furies Variations is a devised theatre piece reimagining justice through Aeschylus, Kafka, and live rock. Explore morality, law, and our society. - **Not The Maids** (11 – 13 Aug 2017) — *Roles: Director, Promotion Photographer* Not The Maids is a devised theatre production deconstructing the identities of Hong Kong's domestic workers, reclaiming their lives beyond the labels. - **Lost Shoreline** (22 Apr – 2 May 2017) — *Roles: App Designer and Programmer, Promotion Photographer* Explore Lost Shoreline: an immersive audio-walk performance in Yau Ma Tei. Use GPS to uncover the city’s hidden history and the cost of urban renewal. - **Milk and Honey** (17 – 20 Jul 2016) — *Roles: Director, Collaborating Actor, Promotion Photographer* Milk and Honey is a unique song theatre piece by Rooftop Productions. Exploring migration through myths and 20+ global folk songs, are you satisfied? - **The Beautiful Ones** (11 – 20 Dec 2015) — *Roles: Promotion Photographer, Director, Collaborating Actor, App Designer and Programmer* The Beautiful Ones is a site-specific immersive theatre experience, blending audio tours and physical performance to explore human isolation in urbanity. ## Articles Ivor Houlker - Drama for Schools - What can we learn from online streamed theatre? - What is Song Theatre? - Theatre vs Drama: What's the difference? - Making App-based Theatre ## Awards & Recognition - **Winner of :** Script / Playwright of the Year - IATC (HK) Critics Awards 2025 - **Winner of :** Best Original Music (Drama) - 33rd Hong Kong Drama Awards - **Winner of :** Award for Young Artist (Drama) - The 16th Hong Kong Arts Development Awards (2021) - **Nominated for:** Director of the Year - IATC (HK) Critics Awards 2024 - **Nominated for:** Best Director - 33rd Hong Kong Drama Awards - **Nominated for:** Director of the Year - IATC (HK) Critics Awards 2022 - **Nominated for:** Best Script - 12th Hong Kong Theatre Libre (2019-2020) - **Nominated for:** Best Director - 12th Hong Kong Theatre Libre (2019-2020) - **Nominated for:** Best Director - 10th Hong Kong Theatre Libre (2017-2018) - **Nominated for:** Best Director - 9th Hong Kong Theatre Libre (2016-2017) - **Nominated for:** Best Director - 8th Hong Kong Theatre Libre (2015-2016) ## multimedia ![Professional portrait of Rooftop Productions actor Ivor Houlker, 2025.](https://res.cloudinary.com/rphk/image/upload/f_auto/q_auto/v1/rooftop-images/ivor-houlker-logo)