EVENTS – recent & coming up…

In 2019

DocPerform 3: Postdigital

Interdisciplinary Symposium

16th May 2019 at City, University of London

The ‘Genie’ is out of the bottle. Who’s got a story to tell? Playback Theatre

For FREE place book HERE

To look at the programme go HERE

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In 2018

“The Wheel of Fortune”

with True Heart Theatre

An evening of performance and discussion about the highs and lows of gaming and gambling in our lives.

7.30pm

Wednesday 14 November 2018

at the NEW DIORAMA THEATRE

15-16 Triton St, just a short walk from Great Portland Place & Warren Street tubes.

The evening is FREE of CHARGE, though of course we welcome donations.

There will also be refreshments after the performance, so that friendly conversations can continue…

Gambling is normal all over the world.

It is a part of our social exchange and entertainment.

For the Chinese community, coming together to play these games has been an important part of our social history.

What stories can we remember about these old times?

And what stories of these new times where our gambling games are now on the computer and mobile phones?

Lets take this opportunity of sharing and listening to each other through the magical world of Playback Theatre.

The True Heart Theatre team of actors will be hosting this evening’s conversation and reminiscences, and making immediate theatre for you.

We can work in three languages – English, Cantonese and Mandarin.

Everyone is welcome! Come and be entertained, moved, surprised and inspired by the power of theatre!

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TWO FULL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR A FOUNDATION TRAINING IN PLAYBACK THEATRE OFFERED TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN SOCIAL AND COMMUNTY DEVELOPMENT USING THE PERFORMING ARTS

True Heart Theatre is offering TWO FULL SCHOLARSHIPS for a 4-day, 3- night residential training in PLAYBACK THEATRE.

This will take place 28- 31 JULY 2018 at The Claret Centre, Buckden, Cambridgeshire PE19 5TA.

The course begins at 2pm on Saturday 28 July and ends at 4pm on Tuesday 31 July. All meals from dinner on 28 July to lunch on Tuesday 31 July and shared accommodation is included in the scholarship.

DOWNLOAD MORE INFO HERE THT Scholarships for PT Training Jul 2018

FOR MORE INFO ABOUT THIS TRAINING GO TO

WWW.PLAYBACKSCHOOLUK.ORG

Contact HERE with enquiries

(deadline for applications 15 July 2018)

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Dragon Boats and Tea Clippers

Monday 11 June 1900-2030

A Storytelling performance at The British Library

The British Library, Knowledge Centre, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB

Enjoy an evening of Chinese stories and music with storytellers Julie Cheung-Inhin, Candy Ma, Veronica Needa and musician Zhenghui Qiu. Hear of poet Qu Yuan and the Dragon Boat Festival, and the wheeling and dealing of British tea merchants in China.

For more information and to book Go HERE

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True Heart is invited to the Polka Theatre for Children on Saturday 3 March 10.45am to tell stories in celebration of the Chinese New Year festivities at their World of Stories & Music event. All welcome. Free of charge.

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True Heart at the House of Lords!!

Following our successful contribution to the CIAC event in September at the House of Commons, True Heart was invited to make a similar offering to another special event – Woman Volunteer of the Year Award – organised by the Chinese Information & Advice Centre. This took place on Thursday 2 November in the House of Lords’ garden terrace. It was a wonderful time to celebrate the many people who volunteer their time and energy in support of community services.

True Heart at the House of Commons!

On Wednesday 27 September, the Chinese Information & Advice Centre hosted its Charity Fundraising Dinner at the House of Commons Dining Room. A team of True Hearters were there to support this event with a little performance to energise, inform and entertain the audience. A wonderful time was had by all.

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Hong Kong’s acclaimed Tang Shu-wing Theatre Studio to re-run its award-winning Cantonese production of “Titus Andronicus 2.0“

in London on 4 & 5 August 2017

Friday 4 August

7.30pm

Saturday 5 August

2.30pm & 7.30pm

at the New Diorama Theatre, 15-16 Triton St, Regent’s Park, London NW1 3BF

Tickets: £15.50 / £12.50 (concessions)

FOR TICKETS GO TO http://www.newdiorama.com/whats-on/titus-andronicus-20
in Cantonese with English surtitles

Created in 2009 in Hong Kong, Titus Andronicus 2.0 is a bold and revolutionary attempt to explore the unreleased potentials of Shakespeare’s play by rewriting it into a narrative and physicalizing the act of story-telling in various non-representational ways.

Here is a video extract: https://vimeo.com/144080025

Titus Andronicus 2.0 is directed by Tang Shu-wing, world-class director, renowned theatre educator and veteran actor, and former Dean of the School of Drama at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. The main cast includes Andy Ng, Eric Tang, Masu Wong, Leung Ka-wai, Chu Pak-hong, Lai Yuk-ching and Ivy Pang. The play was taken on tour to six cities in Europe and Asia after its premiere in Hong Kong in 2009.

It was very warmly received at the World Shakespeare’s Festival at the Globe Theatre in 2012. Londoners are able to see it again on its European tour this year as part of celebrations of the 20^th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China. It is performed in Cantonese with English surtitles.

Video from recent performance at the Gdansk Shakespeare Festival

https://www.youtube.com/attribution_link?a=J6rtXhMhD4U&u=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DN4z26b_ZCSY%26feature%3Dshare

A question and answer opportunity for the cast and the audience will follow each of the three performances in London. It is suitable for ages 12 or above.

“The entire audience is led to the inner world of the text by a powerful eddy of narration and physical acting” Cup Magazine, (Hong Kong)

“Tang’s minimalist approach works beautifully for a maximalist play… Less is really more” The Strait Times, (Singapore)

TITUS ANDRONICUS 2.0 PRESS RELEASE (Chi & £ng)

Enquiries info@trueheart.org.uk

The project is sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London as part of the programme to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It is also supported by the Arts Development Fund of the Home Affairs Bureau and the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

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True Heart Theatre, Yellow Earth Theatre and The School of Creative and Liberal Arts, Regent’s University London with the support of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office London

hosted

CORPORAL AND SENSORY EXPERIENCE

IN A PERFORMER’S BODY

A Workshop with TANG SHU WING

FRIDAY 28 JULY 2017 10am – 2pm

at REGENTS UNIVERSITY MARYLEBONE THEATRE – GARBUTT PLACE

This workshop was FREE of charge

Tang Shu-wing shared some of his thoughts and practice in training and inspiring his actors by enabling them to arrive at an internal point of transformation. However, this was not so much a workshop to train acting skills but more to create experience for the participants so that they can stretch their imagination, enhancing their power of feeling and expression through the body and the senses. Physicalisation, Deverbalisation and Devisualisation are the main tools of his methods. A routine training of the performers’ legs was introduced to strengthen the body’s willpower. Two exercises on imagination and body memories through impossible tasks were introduced to let the participants discover the unknown hidden in the subconscious.

Each participant brought a blindfold and finished his/her breakfast one hour before the workshop.

All photos by William Wong

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Storytelling at Moon Fest 2016

倫敦華埠慶中秋
MOON FEST UK
SUN 18/09/2016
12:00 – 17:00pm
免費入場 Admission Free

舞獅、功夫表演、文藝大匯演、兒童天地、出爐月餅、攤位游戲
Lion Dance, Martial Arts Display, Children’s Corner, Stall Games, Fresh Moon Cake and more…

TRUE HEART THEATRE at the Children’s Corner
China Exchange (12pm – 4pm)
32A Gerrard St, London W1D 6JA
Storytelling at 12noon, 1pm, 2pm & 3pm

Veronica and Amanda Maud were back at China Exchange to remind us all of the special stories connected to this time of the year. We had a special guest Master Lui who makes Lanterns the old fashioned way…. using wire to make the frame and then this is covered with cellophane in gorgeous colours.

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Perspectives on Chinese Happiness

29-30 June 2016
9.30am-5pm
Location: The Pavilion, 115 Cavendish Street, London W1
(Tube: Oxford Circus)

Facilitated by TRUE HEART THEATRE for the University of Westminster’s unique 2-day event bringing academics and non-academics together to discuss and respond to academic research on Chinese Happiness.

This event presented findings to be published next year in

Perspectives on Chinese Happiness
Gerda Wielander and Derek Hird (Eds.)

The volume will make a unique contribution to the emerging field of happiness studies in China and beyond.

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Our Living Stories – Perspectives on Happiness

Tea and storytelling of a special kind

Another afternoon of surprise & delight with Playback Theatre!

Since our beginnings in 2006, True Heart has been regularly performing Playback Theatre on the third Sundays of most months in a variety of venues as our service to the community. Our events have created an opportunity for people from all cultures, across generations and languages, to meet each other through a heart-full exchange of real-life stories and experiences.

Sunday 19 June 2016

3pm-5.30pm

Venue: Essex Church, 112 Palace Gardens Terrace, London W8 4RT MAP

a very short walk from Notting Hill Gate Underground Station

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Real Life / Real Time

True Heart collaborates with Pei Hsin Chen in her Narrative Environments MA presentation

Friday 1 April

7pm-8.30pm

at Central Saint Martins – The Street, Granary Building, 1 Granary Square,

King’s Cross, London N1C 4AA

“Real Life / Real Time” is a large video screen installation in a public space. It shows, in real time, the complete breeding cycle of a Black Stork family in Latvia. This project aims to create a direct human connection to the simplicity, power and rhythms of nature, as we become increasingly disconnected from our place and role on this planet. For more information go to this FACEBOOK Page

Our playback theatre performance brings us back to our real lives again as we reflect on our own lives through the installation and discover the connections between ourselves and the natural world.

This event is FREE, however you must book your place in order to be admitted into the space.

Please be aware that the whole event will be video-recorded, and by attending you give us permission to use this material.

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Chinese New Year celebrations!!

True Heart presented at the CNY celebrations at Brent Cross Shopping Centre on Saturday 13 February 2016, hosted by the Chinatown Chinese Community Centre.

Master Jeffrey Alexander led his team from JASMA in a powerful demonstration of traditional martial arts.

And Rhoda Tsai, True Heart trustee, threw herself into helping out on the day.

Storytelling for 90 students, parents and teachers from James Dixon Primary School at the Chinatown Chinese Community Centre to learn about Chinese culture and Chinese New Year!

True Heart Theatre was at the FIRST Chinese New Year celebrations in Croydon – presented by Croydon Phoenix Arts on Sunday 7 February 2016.

Brainchild of Community Artist Hale Man & Friends of the Phoenix Croydon, this event brought multicultural Croydon together to celebrate the cheeky year of the Monkey.

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A big THANKYOU to all who attended and gave so generously towards our fundraising appeal. It was a very special evening!

Nancy’s CD is available from us for £10 each plus postage & packing.

Contact us if you would like to buy one!

真心劇團籌款晚會

A Charity Fundraising Gala for True Heart Theatre

Tales from East and West

Best-beloved Arias, Lieder and Chinese Art Songs

with Soprano Nancy Yuen

accompanied by Geoffrey Pratley on the piano

天籟美聲

香港演藝學院

聲樂系主任阮妙芬

女高音獨唱會

Friday 6 Nov 7.30pm

The Steiner Theatre, 35 Park Road, London NW1 6XT

The programme included songs from Purcell, Mozart, Schubert, Richard Strauss, Britten, Verdi, Puccini & from Nancy’s Chinese repertoire.

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Our Living Stories

Tea and storytelling of a special kind

An afternoon of surprise & delight with Playback Theatre!

Sunday 18 October

3pm-5.30pm

Venue: Essex Church, 112 Palace Gardens Terrace, London W8 4RT MAP

a very short walk from Notting Hill Gate Underground Station

By donation….. book HERE

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“London & Me”

Workshop & Performance! 真心劇團 — 一人一故事劇場

Saturday, June 27, 2015

1:00pm to 4:00pm

Drama/Dance Studio – Third Floor

University of East London, University Square, Stratford E15 1NF, United Kingdom |

By donation – Book your place HERE

HERE is MAP to help you find us.

University Square is located in the centre of Stratford, just 5 minutes’ walk from Stratford station, and next door to the Theatre Royal and Picturehouse cinema. Stratford is served by the Central & Jubilee Lines & the DLR.

An opportunity to meet new friends and share stories about our lives in London.

一個認識新朋友以及分享在倫敦生活故事的機會。

True Heart Theatre invites you to an entertaining Saturday afternoon in a lovely dance/drama space at the University of East London’s new Stratford home.

真心劇團誠摯地邀請您來東倫敦大學，在一個優雅的舞蹈/戲劇空間一起共度一個充滿玩味的週六午後時光

Many of us have come from other places in the world. What brings us here and what keeps us here in London? What are you missing? What have you found here instead?

我們，大都是來自世界的不同角落。是什麼把你帶到倫敦？倫敦有什麼把你的心留在這裡？你正在想念什麼？你在這裡發現什麼？

We will explore some of these questions together in a special way through a Playback Theatre performance by us for you. And before that we will also enable you all to meet each other in a very playful way. We are sure you will laugh, and relax, enjoy yourselves very much and make many new friends.

We will work mainly in English, but we can also interpret for Mandarin and Cantonese speakers.

我們將一起通過一個故事劇場演出，以一種不一樣的方式，一同互相分享大家在倫敦不同的體驗。

保證您會過一個充滿歡笑、放鬆、享受自己，及認識新朋友的一天。

活動將以英語為主，輔以普通話和廣東話進行。

如有任何問題，歡迎隨時電郵給我們

有其他相關問題，請短訊或致電

07596702765 Celeste Chung

07447531680 Chen Yi Li

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Our Living Stories

Tea and storytelling of a special kind

An afternoon of surprise & delight with Playback Theatre!

Sunday 21 June

3pm-5.30pm

Venue: Essex Church, 112 Palace Gardens Terrace, London W8 4RT MAP

a very short walk from Notting Hill Gate Underground Station

By donation….. book HERE

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Thursday 26 March 三月廿六日星期四

Living Stories of Chi

& the Search for Well-being and Health

有關”氣” 的生活故事及尋找健康生活之道

9.45-10.55am

ISLINGTON CHINESE ASSOCIATION 依士靈頓華人社區中心

21 Hatchard Road 吃茶路21號, London 倫敦 N19 4NG

Archway tube or Upper Holloway train stations

Everyone is welcome. This event is free of charge.

是次活動將由真心劇圑指導東倫敦大學的表演藝術、戲劇及應用劇場系的二年級學生為大家呈獻

Under the guidance of True Heart Theatre this event is performed by the second year students of the University of East London’s Applied Theatre programme.

True Heart Theatre 真心劇團

is Theatre in Residence at the University of East London’s Performing Arts, BA Drama, Applied Theatre and Performance programmes. 真心劇團 是一以東倫敦大學的表演藝術、戲劇及應用劇場系作基地的劇團

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True Heart Theatre presents

“不在家的新年 Not at home during Chinese New Year”

Saturday, 31 January 2015

2pm – 5pm

Workshop & Performance!

Many on Working Holiday Visas joined us in a Workshop plus Performance exploring the theme of not being at ‘Home’ during the Chinese New Year holidays.

How does it feel to be so far away from home?

Maybe it is all a great adventure.

What are you missing? What have you found here instead?

These questions were explored in a special way through a Playback Theatre performance.

We look forward to creating other opportunities like this on other themes.

Come and join us next time.

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Our Living Stories

Tea and storytelling of a special kind

An afternoon of surprise & delight with Playback Theatre!

SUNDAYS in 2015

22 FEBRUARY & 21 JUNE & 18 OCTOBER

3pm-5.30pm

On Sunday 22 February, old and new friends came together. We learnt a Song for Chinese New Year and a dance to go with it! And through Playback Theatre we shared many stories. One was about moving from a large home in Scotland to a small flat in London – and there is still a good view from the window.

Another was about doing the creative work one is born to do as a second chance and worrying – now waiting to know – if one can earn money from this.

Our last story was about negotiations about a marital separation which – the final straw – has led to the real prospect of losing one’s home. Very hard and very unfair.

We were able to support each other in this space, knowing that here and now, we can give to each other kindness and good cheer, however unsafe or insecure our lives can be.

Warm friendly chats, tea and lovely Chinese cakes and biscuits always helps!

Venue: Essex Church, 112 Palace Gardens Terrace, London W8 4RT MAP

a very short walk from Notting Hill Gate Underground Station

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Storytelling in Chinatown

Sunday 7 September 2014

Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival

At the Chinese Pagoda from 2-4pm, we heard stories of Chang O, the Lady on the moon, and the Great Archer Ho Yi, her husband.

And then made Letters to Chang O, through ART.

She understands messages from the heart and will give you answers through your dreams.

These are some of the lovely letters that young people and their mothers and fathers made during our magical afternoon together.

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A SPECIAL EVENING with

Master Yuen Siu Fai

&

Spring Glory Cantonese Opera Workshop

MONDAY 4 August 7-8pm

at The Steiner Theatre

Rudolf Steiner House

35 Park Road

London NW1 6XT

Free Admission 免費入場

We are now fully booked for this event!

Spring Glory Cantonese Opera Workshop from Hong Kong is led by its founder – maestro artist YUEN Siu-Fai – whose stellar career spanning over 60 years has earned him numerous awards and accolades.

He has appeared on stage on many major occasions, including a command performance for the Queen in 1992. His troupe has travelled to Vancouver, Sydney & Paris, sharing their art and expertise. This August they tour in the UK for the first time, in a contemporary play incorporating traditional Cantonese opera at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Preceding their Edinburgh appearances, the troupe will give a special live performance in London, in a programme which includes these excerpts of beloved pieces from the classic repertoire.

阮兆輝帶領春暉粵劇團演出

Loyalty Under the Banyan Tree

帝女花之香夭

The Assassin 易水送荊軻

The Celebration of Good Times [a duet] 娛樂昇平 [二人合奏]

The Princess in Distress – The Mongolian Theme

鳳閣恩仇未了情之胡地蠻歌

Co-presented by True Heart Theatre and the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office with the support of the Asian Performing Arts Forum, this event will be hosted in English, with performances in Cantonese.

We are fully booked. However you are welcome to email us to be put on a waiting list.

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Playfulness & Creativity for Mandarin & Cantonese speakers

1 July in Cantonese

17 June in Mandarin

Two Tuesday evening Workshops for EVERYONE

7-9.30pm

University of East London, University Square, I Salway Road, Stratford E15 1NF

We played drama games and simple impro exercises to rediscover our natural playfulness and creativity. This work develops empathy and trust in self and others. This is a wonderful way to meet new people and connect with old friends.

Enquiries & Bookings info@trueheart.org.uk

This event is free of charge. However we welcome DONATIONS

Download Leaflet HERE TUESDAYS 17 JUNE & 1 JULY 2014 WS

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TRUE HEART performs at Hale Man’s

Elements of Transformation

Bringing Positive Energy and Creativity to Croydon

Saturday 14^th June 2014

At The Whitgift Centre, Croydon

Participate and join in the fun! There will be arts activities and events for all as part of an interactive and exciting series of fundraising events from 27^th May – 30^th August 2014.

3pm -4.15pm

Wood Element – Free Interactive Performance by True Heart Theatre

Venue – Outside in space “Transform” – across from art studio

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To celebrate Dying Matters Awareness Week, the Conscious Ageing Trust presents a Playback Theatre performance by True Heart Theatre

Tell your Death & Dying Stories

How do we feel about death and dying?

Stories from this performance…

We began with how a fall for a woman in her eighties has now awoken such a feeling of fragility and insecurity about the simple act of walking, something she never considered before

Dealing with ageing parents, how complicated it is when you do love them and yet there is so much unresolved pain and anger in your relationship with them

How wanting to talk to them about these things before they die is resisted and after their death, these issues hang in the air unsettled

How keeping alive as a mother to keep her children safe during almost impossible circumstances during the war has meant keeping death at bay so powerfully that now when she is in her nineties and wants to die, death still cant get close to claiming her!

Noticing patterns and mirrors between generations….

Thank you everyone for being there. May the ripples from our pebble thrown into the pond of sharing move onwards and outwards to relieve us of our isolation around this challenging theme.

Tuesday 13 May

7.30pm

The Pirate Castle

Oval Road, London NW1 7EA

This performance is FREE

DONATIONS are welcome

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身處倫敦華埠，我對區內的賭博情況有何感受？

How do I feel about gambling here in Chinatown?

40 people came along to this performance. Many stories were told of gambling experiences. As winners, as losers… the highs and lows… as family members anxious to know what will happen next when there are big debts to deal with.

Watch this Report from Propeller TV on this topic

真心劇團與賭博關注組合作呈獻即興劇場演出身處倫敦華埠，我對區內的賭博情況有何感受？

True Heart Theatre in association with the Chinese Gambling Concerns Group presents a performance of improvisational theatre on the topic of gambling in London’s Chinatown

3月18日(星期二) 下午3至4.30時 Tuesday 18 March 3pm – 4.30pm

at

FENG SHUI INN, 6 Gerrard Street, Chinatown, London W1D 5PG

FREE OF CHARGE 免費

今天，我們誠邀你們分享在華埠生活及工作的點滴, 以及大家對賭博的感受！

Today we will talk about living and working in Chinatown. And how we feel about Gambling!

對於有些人, 賭博也許只是純粹娛樂; 對於另一些人, 賭博也許是舒緩工作壓力的方法;

For some people it could be just entertainment. For some it could be relief from hard work.

對於賭博, 也許不同的人有不同的故事可以分享。

For others there are different stories to tell.

我們的演出全靠觀眾參與。The kind of theatre we make depends on who is in the audience.

我們的劇場全為觀眾而演。We make theatre that is in service to our audience.

無論你想分享甚麼，或想在演出裏看到甚麼，Whatever you want to say, whatever you want to see, we will perform for you.