Until March 23
Each Zingaro production is short-lived and unique. As each of these equestrian theatre extravaganzas is created with a special team of horses, and as horses have a shorter life span than humans, it is impossible to stage the same show years later. A tribute to Gypsy culture by the Paris-based troupe whose name means ‘Gypsy’ in Spanish and Italian, Battuta is performed at breakneck speed in order to highlight the risky, live-for-the-moment aspect of life that Zingaro’s director/choreographer Bartabas believes we have lost in the modern world. Catch this spectacular show every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 8pm and every Saturday, Sunday and public holiday at 6pm at the Hung Hom Ferry Pier Lawn. Tickets range from $600 to $200 and are available from URBTIX, 2734 9009

Sunday, February 17
Around 50,000 registered participants are expected to put on their running shoes for the final leg of the Greatest Race on Earth. International runners participating in the 12th Annual HK Marathon will be chasing $8.42 million for the fastest cumulative time of races in Nairobi, Singapore, Mumbai and Hong Kong. But, of course, not all these speedsters will have participated in the other three marathons; for on its own, this event is also a race for the city’s residents, with the total prize money for the full marathon being worth over $545,000. This year’s 10km has been moved to start at the Island Eastern Corridor, but the half and full marathons’ starting lines remain at Nathan Road (outside the Miramar Hotel) and all races finish up at Victoria Park. The 10km Challenge starts at 5:15am, the half marathon at 7am and the full marathon at 7:45am. For further details call 2577 0800 or go to www.hkmarathon.com

February 19-21
The Stuttgart Ballet, became internationally renowned under the direction of John Cranko. After Cranko’s death in 1973, Germany’s first major ballet company has continued to tour with Onegin, a work which has come to be looked upon as its signature piece. This ballet’s story revolves around two young sisters, Olga and Tatiana. Tatiana falls in love with Onegin, a friend of Olga’s fiancé, declaring her feelings in a letter which is one of the most well-known pieces of literature to this day. To celebrate the 80th anniversary of Cranko’s birth, the HK Arts Festival will be presenting the Stuttgart Ballet in the balletomane’s most renowned productions – Onegin as well as Swan Lake (14-16 Feb). Performances of Onegin run from February 19-21 at 7:30pm each night. Tickets range $780 to $280 from URBTIX, 2734 9009.

February 21-22
In Infernal Affairs (2002), two men meet in a music shop and take a moment to appreciate the voice of veteran Taiwanese songstress Tsai Chin. One of the characters comments: “Her soprano is sweet, while the alto is accurate, and the contralto bass is deep. In a word, it’s transparent.” Tsai Chin’s upcoming concert performances on February 21 and 22 at the HK Coliseum start at 8:15pm. Tickets range from $480 and $100 from URBTIX, 2734 9009.

February 23-24
Stage director and playwright Li Liuyi sees the story of Hua Mulan in a more profound light than the Disney animation Mulan. The production, the second part of the Trilogy of War Heroines, showcases Li Liuyi’s aim to highlight psychological aspects of legendary heroines that are often passed over. Performances will be held at HK Cultural Centre, Studio Theatre at 7:30pm each night. Tickets are $220 and $120 at URBTIX.

Sunday, February 24
More Brady Bunch than homosexual, the Gay Singers are so-called because they sing joyful tunes. The group of eight male and female a cappella singers whose shows are a mix of East and West, classical and modern, began as a collegiate team graduating from the Chinese University of HK and have since featured in an RTHK documentary programme, and been presented with a Lifestyle Award by Metro Radio. The Gay Singers will be performing at the Sheung Wan Civic Centre’s Theatre on Sunday, February 24. Showtime is at 8pm. Tickets are $160 and $120 from URBTIX, 2734 9009.

Wednesday, February 27
Chinese civilization is one of the world’s oldest and has accumulated a multitude of folk tales and legends. Such tales have inspired the musical works performed by the HK Chinese Orchestra in their Music About China 2 concert. Conducted by Yan Hui Chang, the programme includes Festivity, Scenes of Rivers Xiao & Xiang and Dragon-lantern, all pieces which commemorate China’s ancestral customs. The Wednesday, February 27, performance will be held at the HK City Hall Concert Hall at 8pm. Tickets range from $300 to $100 at URBTIX, 2734 9009.

February 29-March 1
An alcoholic lesbian, a dim-witted younger woman, and a conniving executive are the central characters of Frank Marcus’s dark comedy, The Killing of Sister George. Wordybird Theatre Company brings us the HK premiere of the story of June Buckridge, actress of the character Sister George in a radio series, who discovers that her character is about to be killed off. The February 29 to March 1 performances will be held at the Fringe Club’s Fringe Studio at 7:45pm. Tickets are $180 from HK Ticketing, 31 288 288.

February 28-March 1
Flamenco is not just about women in colourful dresses playing castanets. Instead, there are four distinct elements to the festive Spanish tradition – the guitars, vocals, dancing and palmas (handclapping). Treating us to a sneak preview of the HK Flamenco Festival, dancer Ingrid Sera-Gillet, Jasmin Chen, guitarist Ian Fu and his music group will show us how flamenco is done at the Fringe Club’s Fringe Theatre from February 28 to
March 1. The performances will commence at 8pm each night. Tickets are $95 at HK Ticketing, 31 288 288.

February 29 - March 3
Pina Bausch’s works defy any of the usual reference points such as plot, character and often meaning. But the modern dance doyen never fails to create innovative, dynamic and dramatically dazzling works which are replete with her choreographic trademarks - superb dance, theatrical play and moments of absolute artistry. Her latest creation, Vollmond (Full Moon), features water, water and more water as dancers splash and swirl through torrents of water in a sequence of short scenes. This programme of virtuoso dance runs from February 29 to March 3 at the HK Cultural Centre’s Grand Theatre. Showtime is 7:30pm on February 29 and March 1 and 3 but 3pm on Sunday, March 2. Tickets range from $650 to $100 and are available from URBTIX, 2734 9009.
Unafraid of violent obsessions, director Tang Shu-wing enjoys exploring the deepest and darkest recesses of the human psyche. So it figures that he has elected to stage Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus at the 36th HK Arts Festival. Out of fashion for many decades, due to its bloodthirsty story, it is a play about honour disfigured. This brutal tale of hatred and revenge by the Bard of Avon will be performed at 7:45pm on February 29, March 1 and 3, and 5pm on March 2. Tickets ranging from $250 to $100 are available from URBTIX, 2734 9009.