Noh theatre + Kyogen play—School of Hosho and School of Okura-Yamamoto Ke【HKAF 2025】Hong Kong Arts Festival

With more than 600 years of heritage, Noh theatre is on the UNESCO Representative List of Intagible Cultural Heritage. Kazufusa Hosho, the 20th grandmaster of Japanese Noh Five Families’ School of Hosho, will present the classic Noh theatre Funabenkei and the world premiere of Noh play The Butterfly Lovers, while Kyogen play Owl will be performed by the School of Okura-Yamamoto Ke.

Funabenkei follows the story of warrior monk Benkei and his master, Yoshitsune, escaping Kyoto by boat and encountering vengeful spirits at sea. Indulge in beautiful song and dance and discover Noh’s literary and martial styles through this classic play. Owl is a Kyogen play about a man who suspects his brother has been possessed by a monster and his failed attempts to find a cure with a monk, reflecting the absurdities of life. The Butterfly Lovers is based on a Chinese folktale. Zhu Yingtai reveals her identity as a woman to her sworn brother, Liang Shanbo, and the two pledge eternal love to each other, only to die in agony and re-emerge as butterflies when they are forced apart. How will the unique art form of Noh theatre re-interpret the Chinese folk legend? This world premiere of the Noh adaptation is a must-see.

- Performed in Japanese with Chinese and English surtitles
- Approx. 2 hr 50 mins including one interval