Portfolio Lai Sim Fong Zoe

LAI, SIM FONG

DRAMATURGE, PRODUCER & CURATOR

I am not the artist, I am not the work itself, I am not the audience either. I am always in-between.

MFA in Theatre Practice

University of Exeter (UK)

BA (Hons) Modern Languages and Intercultural Studies

CUHK

TABLE(S) OF CONTENT

The project connects and pairs up eight creators for dialogues, and generating interaction with each other based on their respective professions. In the process, unexpected resonance sparked, on social or personal issues. They also drew reflections upon similar and contrasting experiences. In such context, “performativity” can be observed as something common yet different across different disciplines. “Performativity” is not unique to theatre production; it manifests itself in distinct forms among sectors and media. Through “table sharing”, four sets of intertwined works and conversations are expected to be reached.

https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=t6pkKVgw1u2 (contemporary performance)

100% HONG KONG

WKCD x Rimini Protokoll/ October 2021

One hundred Hong Kong citizens, chosen to reflect the demographics of the city, come together in the Grand Theatre at the Xiqu Centre.

As performers, as people, as percentage points, they respond live to a series of questions, reconfiguring a series of ever-changing statistical groupings on stage and bravely revealing their joys and sorrows, hopes and fears, beliefs and attitudes.

(contemporary theatre)

ASSISTANT DRAMATURG

DANCE ON PAINT

K11 MUSEA/ September 2021

A contemporary dance performance celebrating the beauty of movement, spontaneity and colour. Two seasoned artists Nelson Pang and Ryan from dance and classical music background created this piece under the curation of Zoe Lai.

(contemporary dance)

https://youtu.be/BlnBFgtEwtg

ARTIST-CURATOR

HUMAN GRAFFITI

Goethe Institut Hong Kong/ September 2021

A community performance event which involves general public to perform their own choreography in the public space. It is about the sharing of personal views of a city, human encounter and community formation.

(contemporary dance)

https://youtu.be/dwGIX2dNYvU

https://www.goethe.de/ins/cn/en/sta/hon/ver.cfm? fuseaction=events.detail&event id=22327673

ARTIST-CURATOR

FRAGILE

Tai Kwun/ September 2020

Working closely with the choreographer

Hanna Brotherus (Oslo). It is a community dance piece that explore the fragility and strength of being a human.

(contemporary dance)

https://www.facebook.com/hkaf.at.taikwun

Hanna Brotherus Company (Oslo) /Hong Kong Arts Festival

EDIBLE PERFORMANCE

Tai Kwun, Grassroot Pantry and Zen Organic Farm/ 1 March -30 April 2019

Through a series of workshops and performance, the knowledge of food ecology, plant-based cooking and sustainability is successfully transferred to the general public. This event is awarded Good Design Award Japan 2020

(workshop/performance)

https://youtu.be/1C0n9TipdPs

Tai Kwun

PRODUCER/CURATOR

INFLUENZERS

Tai Kwun /Jan 2019

Working closely with artist Enoch Cheng to produce an audio tour, which was commissioned by the curator Kwok Ying, for the exhibition "Contagious Cities, Far Away, Too Close"

(audio tour)

t.ly/TMig

DRAMATURGE

Enoch Cheng/ Tai Kwun Contemporary

2019

Artistree/ Aug 2019

Working closely with choreographer Frankie Ho (HK) and set designer Yoko Seyama (Berlin) to create a contemporary piece that celebrates the art of structure and form.

It was awarded with Outstanding Small Venue Production of 22nd Hong Kong Dance Award (contemporary dance)

STAY/AWAY DRAMATURGE

Hook Dance Theatre/ Artistree

SHIFTING BY KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER

Tai Kwun, various local in SZ and HK/ 1 March -30 April 2019

A series of events curated with scholar Merve Bedir (HK/ Amsterdam). The focus is to raise the awareness of how technology like AR and automation is changing human life.

(workshop)

Tai Kwun

PRODUCER/CURATOR

HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL BLACKBOX THEATRE FESTIVAL

Hong Kong Repertory Theatre Blackbox Theatre/ 1 April -2 Nov 2018

Working closely with two artistic directors to curate the festival, duties include selection, research, audience building and outreach programme design.

(theatre festival)

https://goo.gl/BxJ3gs

FESTIVAL DRAMATURGE

WKCD/ Hong Kong Repertory Theatre

ONE FINE DAY

Hong Kong Repertory Theatre Blackbox Theatre/ 15 Aug - 11 Oct 2018

Working closely with the director and dramaturge from Beijing to cast suitable local citizens to take part in this documentary theatre. I also provided dramaturgical support during the rehearsal process.

(performance)

https://goo.gl/qyRB36

New Youth Group (Beijing) / Hong Kong Repertory Theatre

REMOTE HONG KONG

Various venues in Kowloon/ 1 June - 15 Aug 2018

Working closely with the director to execute the work: locating suitable venues, research, liaison with the venues and technical team, translation and overseeing the tour.

DOCUMENTARY THEATRE FESTIVAL

Responsible for festival webpage editing and writing; conducting research on documentary theatre. Writing, and directing the video about the study trip in London and Berlin.

(theatre

festival)

Video 1: https://youtu.be/f3IyOYuOboo

Video 2: https://youtu.be/jqY41GJ2Zqg

DRAMATURGE

https://goo.gl/cnWCBv Pants Theatre Production

NOT THE MAIDS

Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre/ 15 April-15 Aug 2017

Dramaturge of a documentary theatre piece about foreign domestic helper, responsible for researching and structuring of the piece.

(theatre)

Video 1: https://goo.gl/EDAP39

DRAMATURGE

Rooftop Production

Hong Kong Cultural Centre / 15 Dec 2016- 15 Mar 2017

Dramaturge of a contemporary dance piece, responsible for researching, questioning and structuring of the piece. The piece is based on a novella written by a Hong Kong writer, Tung Kei Cheung.

(contemporary dance)

NOOK DRAMATURGE

Hong Kong Arts Festival/ Wong Pik Kei

Kwai Tsing Theatre Blackbox / 15 Dec 2016- 15 Mar 2017

Dramaturge of a contemporary dance piece, responsible for researching, questioning and structuring of the piece. The piece is surrounding family issue and parenthood.

(contemporary dance)

DRAMATURGE

Hong Kong Arts Festival/ Terry Tsang

ESTATE AGENTS

Cultural Centre Studio Theatre / 15 Aug 2016- 23 Oct 2016

Researching and writing house programme, and overseeing the design; designing/hosting post-show talk

Estate Agents: it is a documentary theatre piece about the real estate industry and the agents working in it.

(theatre)

https://goo.gl/SEpeQ9

GWEILO

Cultural Centre Studio Theatre / 15 Feb 2016- 23 May 2016

Researching and writing house programme, and overseeing the design; designing/hosting post-show talk of Gweilo: it is a play adaptation of a British writer Martin Booth’s biography Gweilo.

(theatre)

https://goo.gl/JaDhvW

Pants Theatre Production

DRAMATURGE

SWEET MANDARIN

Cultural Centre Studio Theatre / 15 Dec 2015- 23 Feb 2016

Researching and writing house programme, and overseeing the design; designing/hosting post-show talk

Sweet Mandarin: it is a play adaptation of a British-born Chinese writer Helen Tse’s biography Sweet Mandarin

(theatre)

https://goo.gl/j3cU7L

Pants Theatre Production

ETIQUTTE

Pacific Coffee & HKREP/ 15 June 2015- 30 Sept 2015

Executing the directorial work for the artist Ant Hampton. House programme design and post-show talk. The work is a automatic theatre which provides the audience an unusual theatrical experience outside theatre.

City Hall / 15 June 2014- 30 Sept 2014

Dramaturge of a contemporary text, responsible for researching, adapting and structuring of the piece. Duties include house programme design and post-show talk

This piece is awarded with Top Ten Most Popular Production and Best Production Award of the 25th Hong Kong Drama Award.

(performance)

ATTEMPTS ON HER LIFE DRAMATURGE

Hong Kong Repertory Theatre

SPOKEN LIGHT

Fringe Club/ 15 May 2013- Aug 2013

A documentary theatre piece devised from the interviews of 30 lesbians in Hong Kong. (theatre)