Once in a while, amidst many programmes of dance, theatre and music of an international festival, the organiser adds a special show. As part of the Hong Kong Arts Festival 2008, Theatre Zingaro's "Battuta" is such a case.

The appearance by this French troupe and its spectacular horse show marks their second in Asia, after Japan.

In the 1980s in France, Zingaro was founded by a keen equestrian and actor known simply as Bartabas. The troupe's name comes from Bartabas' most-adored performing horse. From the beginning, he structured his shows so that humans and animals would work in alliance.

Their first production, "Cabaret Equestre" (1984), created vibes across France, with the horses sprinting energetically around in a musical manner. They attracted a following across Europe and North America.

"Battuta" is quite a spectacle, with 18 riders, 57 crew and 15 gypsy musicians (two bands: brass from Moldova, strings from Transylvania). The 36 horses, of various breeds, daily consume 520 kilograms of barley, 400kg of oats, 4,550kg of hay and 152kg of carrots. They will perform in a 3,850 square meter tent at Victoria Harbour.

"Hong Kong has always had a special relationship with horses," says Tisa Ho, the executive director of the Hong Kong Arts Festival 2008, who has organised the show with the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.

"In the Beijing Olympics, the equestrian competitions will also be held here. This is a show that's unlikely to travel to any other parts of Asia. This is a huge show and it's not something that we'd do in normal years."

Premiered in Turkey, "Battuta" features horses and riders thundering around a luminous column of water. In the extravaganza filled with various styles, quickness of movements, and its continuous flow, characters include resplendent brides, angry fathers, jealous rivals, and bejewelled belly dancers. Bartabas devised this show as he was inspired by the amount of energy that the enigma called Zingaro has generated in all these years of travels around the globe. He devised this term to describe the rhythm of the gypsy musical tradition.

The recent review in South China Morning Post reads, "Staged in a marquee, 'Battuta' is set on the morning of a wedding feast as a group of sleepy gypsies and their horses are waking up next to a waterfall. What follows for the next 75 minutes is one riotous scene after another, with brides in white gowns being chased by angry fathers and jealous suitors alike.

"Much of the action takes place on or around the horses, which gallop in circles, their riders performing stunts such as somersaults and even playing the fiddle. With plenty of slapstick humour, the show is engaging, especially for younger folk."

Good news for fun seekers outside Hong Kong: while many programmes at the Hong Kong Arts Festival are already sold out, a limited number of tickets to "Battuta" were still available at press time, thanks in part to the fact that they're performing for a total of 32 shows to audiences of 1,282 each, over the course of six weeks.

Theatre Zingaro's 'Battuta' is performing at 8pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; and 6pm on Saturday and Sunday until March 23 at Hung Hom Ferry Pier Lawn in Hong Kong. Tickets range from HK$100 (Bt430) to $600, available at www.urbtix.hk. For more info, click to www.zingaro.hk.

written by Pawit Mahasarinand

published in The Nation (Weekend Magazine) on February 22, 2008          

all photos courtesy of Hong Kong Arts Festival