The Furies Variations, Key Visual
The Furies Variations poster
Rooftop Productions
Music Theatre
Greek Theatre

The Furies Variations

By what principles can we judge, in order that we continue to choose justice, rather than the worst injustice? – Plato (Republic)
7–9 Dec 2018

Kwai Tsing Theatre Black Box Theatre

1 hour 30 minutes

The Furies / Eumenides / Justice / Rule of Law / Ethics / Oresteia…

The Furies, vengeful goddesses of Ancient greek mythology, are born from the blood of Uranus. Their role is to pursue wrongdoers and take revenge upon them. However, in the Oresteia, they are given a new role by Athena: to enforce the new judiciary system established by the people of Athens, and enforce it with due process rather than simply taking revenge. They are given the title of ‘Eumenides’ or ‘The Kindly Ones,’ to acknowledge their new role as protectors and citizens of Athens. Aeschylus’ Oresteia not only brought mythological characters to life; it also used them to reflect and justify the contemporary political and judicial change in ancient Athens- from the rule of Kings to Democracy.

History is full of examples of those in search of justice, but today how do we define justice? Who is responsible for it? How should it be carried out? What is the role of The Furies’ in our search for justice?

Ancient Greece / Myth / Philosophy / Plato’s Republic / Intertextuality / Polyphonic Song / Live Band…

The Furies Variations takes ideas from different ancient Greek playwrights, as well as works from Plato, Confucianism, Kafka and others, using an intertextual approach to consider the the current problem of justice. Accompanied by live rock music, polyphonic singing and Bach.

More information

Dates & Tickets

Dates

7 Dec 2018
Fri
12:00
8–9 Dec 2018
Sat – Sun
07:00, 12:00

Duration

1 hour 30 minutes

Ticket Prices

HK$150–200

Audience Information

Language

Performance in Cantonese with English surtitles.

There is a post-show talk after each performance, please feel free to stay and participate.

Seating is unallocated.

Ticket Reminders

Tickets are non-refundable.

The show lasts about 90 minutes without interval. Latecomers must wait to be admitted.

All rights reserved by Rooftop Productions Ltd.

Ticket Availability

Group purchases of between 5-9 full price tickets will receive a 5% discount. 10-19 receive a 10% discount. 20 and above receive a 15% discount.

You can only use one of the above discounts offered, please let the staff know about your preference during purchase.

Venue

Kwai Tsing Theatre Black Box Theatre

12 Hing Ning Road, Kwai Chung, New Territories, Hong Kong

Kwai Tsing Theatre Black Box Theatre
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Getting there

5 minutes from Kwai Fong Station, Exit A.

Creative and Production Team

Directors

Music Director

Collaborating Actors

Lighting Designer

Musician

Sound Designer

Stage Manager

Graphic Designer

Promotion Photographer

Promotion Makeup Artist

Video Operator

Acknowledgements: Canaan Moving Co Ltd, We Draman, Phoenix Cheung, 18th Art Space.

Awards & Recognition

Awards and recognition for shows or achievemenets

Winner of

Best Scenography

11th Hong Kong Theatre Libre (2018-2019)

Nominated for

Best Performance

11th Hong Kong Theatre Libre (2018-2019)

Nominated for

Scenography of the Year

IATC (HK) Critics Awards 2018

Nominated for

Performance of the Year

IATC (HK) Critics Awards 2018

What Critics Say

Quotes from reviews and articles about us and our shows

Directors' Notes

The Oresteia is a formidable epic, full of revenge and dead Greeks. We couldn’t get any dead Greeks to come and see our show, so we had to adapt it significantly from the original. This involved a process of devising with the actors, based on Aeschylus’ themes and characters, relating them back to our own experiences and identities in contemporary Hong Kong society.

“A just society can’t be achieved simply by maximising utility or by securing freedom of choice. To achieve a just society we have to reason together about the meaning of the good life, and to create a public culture hospitable to disagreements.” - Michael Sandel

In our process we have been trying to emulate some of Sandel’s conclusions about justice, challenging one another’s beliefs about morality, religion, and how to live. A common element we found between the Oresteia, our own experiences, as well as other philosophical sources is that the family is central to our development of a sense of justice, forming a microcosm of how justice is enacted on a larger scale in society. When the most pressing issues of our time cannot even be discussed between different generations in the same family, then coming to a consensus on what is ‘just’ on a larger scale is unthinkable.

Music

When confronted with epically long books Homer’s Odyssey or Aeschylus’ Oresteia, it’s easy to forget that what we are looking at on the page was at the time the height of popular music. We know that Euripides was considered way ahead of his time in terms of his avant -garde composition. There’s a story in Plutarch about how a group Athenian prisoners were able to earn food and drink when captured in Syracuse by singing Euripides’ latest songs. Music has a way of rendering the epic scale of tragedy more accessible and palpable, adding a level that translates across cultures and time.

Greek Theatre

In its golden age from the 5th to the 4th century BC, it was said that Athens spent more money on its theatre than its fleet. The theatre was a place to discuss important issues of the time, with playwrights using the stories of heroes and from their semi-mythical past as a metaphor for the urgent societal issues of the time. Theatres often served as an alternative site for public debate, and mass engagement with theatrical performances was thought to promote the kind of the deliberative reason, critical judgement, and civic values necessary for participating in a democratic society.

Most of the text you hear has come from the group of collaborating actors, writing and rewriting. We’d like to thank them for all their efforts and sharing, as well as the whole creative team, and others who have supported us to make this show possible.

About the Artists

Learn more about everyone involved in the production

Promotional photo of Ivor Houlker for The Furies Variations

Ivor Houlker

Ivor Houlker is a multidisciplinary theatre artist, who works internationally as a director, actor, musician, and programmer.

Director
Music Director
Musician
Promotion Photographer
Promotional photo of Michelle Li for The Furies Variations

Michelle Li

Michelle Li is an interdisciplinary performer and theatre practitioner in Hong Kong. She has created site-specific theatre works in the UK, Greece, and Sicily, and continues to develop her performing and creative career locally, working as a producer, director, performer, and designer.

Director
Collaborating Actor
Promotional photo of Chan WIng Shuen for The Furies Variations

Chan Wing Shuen

Chan Wing Shuen (Boat) is a young actress who maintains a youthful mindset, and perseveres despite failures, having auditioned three times.

Collaborating Actor
Promotional photo of Chou Henick for The Furies Variations

Chou Henick

Collaborating Actor
Promotional photo of Wong On Ting for The Furies Variations

Wong On Ting

Collaborating Actor
Promotional photo of Lung Jes for The Furies Variations

Lung Jes

Collaborating Actor
Promotional photo of Yau Fuk Wing for The Furies Variations

Yau Fuk Wing

Collaborating Actor
lai-bie-key-visual

Lai Bie

Lai graduated from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, majoring in Theatre Lighting Design. Her recent theatre work includes: Contemporary Musiking Hong Kong _Many Visions of Many Cosmos: Olivier Messsiaen's Vision de l'amen_; HKREP _The Invisible Men_; HerStory Polygon _Floating on 432Hz_; On & On Theatre Workshop _Je Tremble_.

Lighting Designer
Promotional photo of Maggie Chu for The Furies Variations

Maggie Chu

Musician
Promotional photo of Sham Chung Tat for The Furies Variations

Sham Chung Tat

Musician
Sound Designer

Sam Siu

Stage Manager
Superheroes Don't Give a Shit!

Alfie Leung

Alfie is a freelance graphic designer/amateur actor/amateur playwright.

Graphic Designer

Anni Teng

Promotion Makeup Artist
chan-tsz-ho-key-visual

Chan Tsz Ho Calvin

Freelance multimedia and theatre artist Calvin Chan specialises in video design, multimedia design and live mixing. He also works as technical consultant for a variety of live performances and events, as well as films and TV productions. Recent theatre works include: Testimony and The Furies Variations (Rooftop Productions), Confrontations and February 14 – A musical (Hong Kong Repertory Theatre), and Bull (Fableist Ensemble).

Video Operator