A Bouffon Play About Hong Kong

“Laughter helps the bouffon to beautifully parody the bastards who put him on the blacklist. Laughter helps freedom.” – Philippe Gaulier

Our bouffon characters emerge from nowhere: the very wise Confucious, a retired soldier, an ill-humored Cantonese teacher, a small family and their neighbour, two friends, a mysterious woman and a child. They tell their stories in their own time, fussing over their own trivial lives and occasionally pondering their dreams. Their stories clash following the death of the child.

The event goes unnoticed, what follows is a series of questions, explanations, philosophising and general gossip. No one really knew who the child was, and do they really care? Life goes on in Hong Kong but something is looming.

Silent fireworks explode over Victoria Harbour: under the smoky sky of Hong Kong, the bouffons gather again.

They remain in limbo, full of loss, regret and confusion.

They laugh, they dance, they say ‘fuck you’.

A Bouffon Play About Hong Kong is a finalist of The Women’s Prize for Playwriting 2021 and recipient of Newcastle Live Theatre Bursary.

Age guidance: 14+

Image credit: Jeffrey Choi