From a timeless novel to a glamorous movie...now a thrilling ballet production!
Hong Kong Ballet Proudly Presents
The Great Gatsby
Asian première of a literary and balletic masterpiece with new sets and costumes by Academy Award winner Tim Yip
[Hong Kong – 28 December 2018] Kicking off the new year, Hong Kong Ballet will present Septime Webre’s Asian première of The Great Gatsby in February 2019. Set in the glamorous world of New York high society in the Roaring Twenties, this extraordinary tale of abundant wealth, stunning excess and dark obsession is based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s ‘Great American Novel’. Thought-provoking and emotional, The Great Gatsby reflects on the clash between “old money” and “new money”, the disintegration of social and moral values and the empty pursuit of pleasure.
Artistic Director Septime Webre explains, “When adapting a masterwork to a different medium, it’s not enough to merely be faithful to the book’s intent—you’ve got to illuminate a new facet of the story which hasn’t been presented before. Audiences can expect a gripping tale of love and obsession, excess and passion. It will be a pretty unique experience.”
With new sets and costumes by Academy Award-winning designer Tim Yip (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon)and live accompaniment by Billy Novick’s Blue Sycopators, award-winning blues singer E. Faye Butler and local jazz vocalist Freddy Au Yeung, The Great Gatsby overflows with extravagant dancing, decadent parties and steamy jazz music.
Guest appearances include international ballet stars Brooklyn Mack (Former Principal Dancer, The Washington Ballet), Matthew Golding (Former Principal Dancer, The Royal Ballet and Dutch National Ballet) and local tap dancer Tan-ki Wong.
The production will run 15-17 February 2019 at Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts for five performances. Tickets are priced at $680, $480, $280 and $140, with VIP tickets at $1,000. Tickets are available at HK Ticketing now.
About The Great Gatsby
The enigmatic Jay Gatsby is a self-made millionaire whose infamous, extravagant parties are attended by many guests, but he still longs for his lost love. His neighbour, Nick Carraway, is a recent university graduate who rents a house in West Egg, Long Island across the water from his wealthy cousin, Daisy Buchanan. Nick learns that Gatsby and Daisy had been in love five years ago, but “rich girls don’t marry poor boys”, and Daisy had married the well-off Tom Buchanan after Gatsby went off to war as a soldier. Gatsby asks Nick to arrange for an afternoon tea with Daisy.
Gatsby and Daisy discreetly begin an affair, while Daisy’s husband Tom is also involved in an affair with garage-owner George Wilson’s wife Myrtle. One afternoon, Gatsby confronts Tom and pleads with Daisy to say she never loved Tom, but he asks too much of her, and Daisy cannot bring herself to do that. Despite everything, Gatsby resolutely still believes Daisy will come back to him. One night, Myrtle is killed by Gatsby’s speeding car, driven by Daisy. George sees Gatsby and assumes he killed Myrtle. Through it all, Nick watches as the idealistic Gatsby is betrayed by his own dreams.
Creative Team
Choreography: Septime Webre
Music (Compiled, composed and arranged): Billy Novick
New Set & Costume Design: Tim Yip
Lighting Design: Billy Chan
Live Blues Singer: E.Faye Butler
Live Jazz Vocalist: Freddy Au Yeung
Live Accompaniment: Billy Novick’s Blue Syncopators
Tim Yip
New Set & Costume Design
Locally born Tim Yip is a world-renowned visual artist, art director for stage and film and fashion designer. He was the first Chinese to win the Academy Award for Best Art Direction for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in 2001. His other accolades include British Film and Television Academy Award for Best Costume Design, Bessie Award and Olivier Award.
Guest Appearances
Brooklyn Mack
International Ballet Star
Former Principal Dancer, The Washington Ballet
Appearances on 15-17.2.2019 7:30pm
Brooklyn Mack won the Varna International Ballet Competition, Boston International Ballet Competition and Istanbul International Ballet Competition in 2012 and was awarded silver medals at the 2006 Jackson International Ballet Competition, 2009 Helsinki International Ballet Competition and 2011 Korean International Dance Competition. He made his debuts at the London Coliseum, Bolshoi Theatre and Palais Garnier in 2016.
Matthew Golding
Guest Principal Dancer, Bavarian State Ballet
Former Principal Dancer, The Royal Ballet and Dutch National Ballet
Appearances on 15-17.2.2019 7:30pm
Matthew Golding won Prix de Lausanne before joining American Ballet Theatre in 2003. Promoted to Principal Dancer of Dutch National Ballet in 2010, he danced with The Royal Ballet during 2014-2017. He won the Dutch Zwaan Award in 2010, the Alexandra Radius Prize in 2011 and was nominated for the Prix Benois de la Danse in 2012.
Tan-ki Wong
Tap Dancer
Tan-ki Wong is the co-founder of Neo Dance HK and was a guest performer with Ballett Bremerhaven in Germany. His accolades include the male solo third prize at the 2012 IDO World Tap Dance Championships, 2011 Outstanding Achievement in Independent Danceand 2014 Outstanding Achievement in Choreography awards at the Hong Kong Dance Awards and the Award for Young Artist in Dance at the Hong Kong Arts Development Awards 2014.
E. Faye Butler
Live Blues Singer
Based in the US, E. Faye Butler is a celebrated theatre actress and singer with over 40 years of experience. She has performed at numerous concert venues, theatres, festivals and Broadway shows like Mamma Mia! and Nunsense. Her accolades include seven Joseph Jefferson Awards, a RAMI Award, an Ovation Award, two Helen Hayes Awards and four Black Theatre Alliance Awards, among others.
Freddy Au Yeung
Live Jazz Vocalist
Freddy Au Yeung is a singer, actor and musician born in Canada and raised in Hong Kong. A Berklee College of Music graduate, he has performed with popstars Wang Leehom, Eason Chan, C All Star and more. Au Yeung’s performance in the musical Godspell won a Musical Theatre Initiative Award at Kennedy Centre American College Theatre Festival 2016.
Billy Novick’s Blue Syncopators
Live Jazz Accompaniment
The Blue Syncopators is a seven-piece band comprised of the finest traditional jazz musicians in the US, created specifically for performing Septime Webre’s The Great Gatsby in 2010. The Blue Syncopators’ musicians have never changed and have performed The Great Gatsby score over 50 times, both with dancers and as a standalone concert piece.
Performance Details
15-17.2.2019
Fri 7:30pm | Sat & Sun 2:30pm & 7:30pm
Lyric Theatre, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
$1,000 (Limited VIP Tickets)
$680 $480 $280 $140 | * $340 $240 $140 $70
* Available for full-time students, senior citizens aged 60 or above and people with disabilities
Tickets are available at HK Ticketing
Programme Enquiry: 2105 9724
Booking: 31 288 288 | www.hkticketing.com
Suitable for ages 6 and above
The presenter reserves the right to alter the programme and artists.
The performance lasts approximately 2 hours with one intermission.
Discounts
Patrons can enjoy only one of the above discounts for each purchase |
$1,000 VIP Ticket-holders Special Privilege
Present your ticket stub to Hong Kong Ballet’s reception counter before the performance or during intermission to receive a coupon for a free drink. Each ticket stub is valid for one free drink only.
HKB UPCLOSE
Ballet 360º
22.1.2019 Tue 7:30pm – 8:30pm
GR2, 8/F, Grand Theatre Backstage, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Free admission
Conducted in English | Suitable for ages 6 and above
Limited capacity, advance registration required
Registration Details: hkballet.com/ballet360
Ballet Happy Hour: The Roaring 20s
Attend an interactive working rehearsal of an upcoming premiere, and then hob-knob with
our artists over a glass of your favourite brew!
25.1.2019 Fri 7:00pm
Asia Society Jockey Club Hall
Conducted in English | Registration details to be announced
Co-presented with Asia Society Hong Kong Center
The Gatsby Charleston Workshop
Join Hong Kong Ballet’s Ballet Master Luis R. Torres for a fun-filled workshop of social dances from the Roaring Twenties. Discover your inner "flapper" while learning the Charleston, thetango, the fox trot and much more!
29.1.2019 Tue 7:15pm – 8:45pm
GR2, 8/F, Grand Theatre Backstage, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Fee: $250 each*
*20% off for Friends of Hong Kong Ballet members
Conducted in English, supplemented with Cantonese | Suitable for ages
16 and above | No prior dance experience is necessary
Limited capacity, advance registration required
Registration Details: hkballet.com/workshop
Sneak Peek
Exclusive for Friends of Hong Kong Ballet members, Ballet Family Club members and Subscribers
9.2.2019 Sat 11:00am
Invitation emails with more details to be sent closer to the date
| Champagne Partner | Make-Up Partner |
 |
 |
International Media Partner |
Media Partner |
 |
|
DOWNLOAD PRESS PHOTOS
[Click on the photo to download full image]
Photo 1: The Great Gatsby promotional image | Dancers (From Left): Chen Zhiyao, Lucas Jerkander (till 2017/18 Season) | Creative: Design Army | Photography: Dean Alexander
Photo 2: The Great Gatsby promotional image | Dancers (From Top, Clockwise): Chen Zhiyao, Li Lin, Jonathan Spigner | Creative: Design Army | Photography: Dean Alexander
Photo 3: Brooklyn Mack, International Ballet Star and Former Principal Dancer, The Washington Ballet
Photo 4: Matthew Golding, Guest Principal Dancer, Bavarian State Ballet and Former Principal Dancer, The Royal Ballet and Dutch National Ballet | Photographer: Erwin Olaf
Photo 5: Tan-ki Wong, Tap Dancer
Photo 6: E. Faye Butler, Live Blues Singer
Photo 7: Freddy Au Yeung, Live Jazz Vocalist
Photo 8: Billy Novick’s Blue Syncopators, Live Accompaniment
Photo 9: Tim Yip, New Set and Costume Design
About Hong Kong Ballet
An eclectic mix of talent, a balance of classical and contemporary works, and a unique repertoire are the trademarks of Hong Kong Ballet, Asia’s premier ballet company. Internationally recognised and acclaimed for its creativity, talent and artistry, the Company, led by Artistic Director Septime Webre, is committed to providing captivating experiences that delight and inspire audiences from all walks of life, both at home and abroad.
For further information, please contact:
Nick Chan
Director of Marketing
T: 2105 9716
M: 9728 1777
[email protected]
Eunice Ho
Assistant Marketing Manager
T: 2105 9757
M: 9189 2235
[email protected]
