Neometropolis

20 - 22 . 12 . 2024

The Corner, East Kowloon Cultural Centre, Hong Kong

In Cantonese with some English dialogue

A world once existed that was organised precisely as plants wanted it.

Years later, the city isolates the forest, leaving the forest with no choice but to retaliate against.

The roots creep into the gaps of the steel and concrete.
The Forest declared,
"There are so many times of extinction of species on this Planet, and this time is entirely on Humans!"

After the Posthuman Journey Trilogy, Yan Pat To has kicked off a new series of works focused on the relationship between humans and nature. The first piece, Neometropolis, debuted in early 2024 at the Theater Gießen in Germany. In December, it will return to Hong Kong as the first program of Reframe Theatre at the East Kowloon Cultural Centre, presenting a play reading to introduce the text to the audience in advance. The performance features a singer-songwriter, Luna is a Bep, who contributes to the songwriting and performance, telling a prophetic story through words and music.

For the well-being of humanity, the smart city Neometropolis built a shield to separate the city from the forest. Inside the city, protests are uprising, while the forest decided to fight back the city. The mayor and the tech giant, who control the fate of the city, are overwhelmed and frantic with worries.

The conflict between the city and the forest will be triggered at any moment. The key to resolve it rests on a boy who had lost his beloved cat. As the plants at his home said, the cat had been summoned by the forest and thus it wandered off. To find his cat back, the boy evaded the city surveillance system and ventured deep into the forest, embarking on a journey that traverse the realms of nature and technology.

Production Team
Playwright / Play-reading Director: Yan Pat To
Adaptation: Tsui Tsz Ching^, Yan Pat To
Play-reading Performers: Luna Is A Bep, Sin Lok Yan, Chung Yik Sau, Chan Kong Hong, Mo Hiu Shan^
Video Designer: Yu Wing Yan, Zhang Riwen
Lighting Designer: Kinphen Leung
Sound Designer: Peter Wong Tsz Kin
Production Manager: Agnes Lee
Producer: Felix Chan
Deputy Producer: Becky Wong

Theme song "IYKYK" by Luna Is A Bep

^Funded by Hong Kong Arts Development Council "2024/25 Arts Talents Internship Matching Programme"

House Programme