You can see the striking XiQu 西區 theatre building from the ferry in and out of town. It’s part of the West Kowloon Cultural project of arts spaces that’s still being built. Someone I know from choir moved from Madrid several years ago to help manage this vast project, which is just coming to fruition in the next year or so.

I’ve been intrigued by the Tea House Theatre experience, a 90 minute taster of Chinese traditional music and opera that you can enjoy most days in this spectacular space ever since my friend told me about it and today we went to a performance.

The Tea House Theatre Experience truly is dipping a toe gingerly into Chinese Opera, which traditionally can be hours long. Today’s programme featured performances by instrumental ensembles and young exponents of the traditional art form, accompanied by tea and a few morsels delivered to your seat in the 15 minute intermission.

I was not supposed to take pictures, I discovered belatedly, so please excuse the poor quality of these discreet ones. My appetite has been whetted. Despite not understanding much at all (there are surtitles) I enjoyed the experience in this intimate theatre and hope to return. I’d definitely recommend it to visitors.