Hong Kong Soul's Sky Sum on showcasing the breadth of Hong Kong theatre at the Fringe

What does contemporary Hong Kong theatre look like in 2026? According to Hong Kong Soul, there's no single answer. Returning to the Edinburgh Fringe with four productions across multiple genres, the showcase embraces diversity, experimentation and cultural exchange. We spoke to producer Sky Sum about this year's programme and the conversations it hopes to spark.

Bringing four distinct shows to Fringe this year — spanning dance, comedy battle, and music — what was the thinking behind curating this particular mix, and is there a thread that ties them together as a collective statement from Hong Kong Soul?

One of Hong Kong Soul's core aims is to reflect the diversity of Hong Kong's performing arts rather than to present a single narrative or artistic style. Each year, we curate a programme that brings together artists working across many disciplines, generations and creative approaches, allowing audiences to experience the breadth of contemporary work coming out of Hong Kong.

While the four productions are very different in tone and form, they are connected by a shared curiosity about people, place and culture. Whether through music, dance or theatre, each work invites audiences to see familiar experiences from a fresh perspective. Together, they demonstrate that Hong Kong's artistic identity is constantly evolving, while remaining deeply connected to its cultural roots.

Gemini / Romantic 4:48 am and Departure Is My Homecoming both suggest deeply personal, introspective territory, while Boom Boom Battle of the Big Bad Bosses sounds much more playful and high-energy. How do you move between those tones across a single Fringe run?

That's exactly what we hope audiences will enjoy about Hong Kong Soul. Great festivals are built on variety, and we wanted the programme to offer different kinds of theatrical experiences.

Some audiences may be drawn to intimate, reflective performances, while others are looking for something energetic and entertaining. We believe these experiences complement one another rather than competing. Together, they create a richer picture of Hong Kong's creative landscape, where humour, imagination, reflection and experimentation all have an equally important place.

Sound Strokes blends Chinese and Scottish music specifically for an Edinburgh audience — how did that fusion come together, and what do you hope it says about Hong Kong Soul's presence at a distinctly Scottish festival?

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is one of the world's great meeting places for artists and audiences from different cultures, so it feels entirely natural for Hong Kong Soul to celebrate creative dialogue. Sound Strokes is a wonderful example of that spirit, bringing together Chinese and Scottish musical traditions to discover new resonances rather than emphasise differences.

We hope audiences experience it not simply as a fusion of styles, but as a conversation between cultures. It reflects what Hong Kong Soul hopes to contribute to the Fringe every year: meaningful artistic exchange, mutual curiosity and the opportunity for people to connect through creativity.

With four shows running concurrently across multiple venues, what's the biggest challenge in making sure each production gets the attention and quality it deserves?

The biggest challenge is balancing the practical demands of presenting multiple productions while ensuring each artist feels fully supported. Every show has its own creative team, venue, technical requirements and audience, so careful planning and close collaboration are essential.

Fortunately, we've built valuable experience over the past four years. We work closely with our partners, venues and artists long before the festival begins, allowing each production to retain its own identity while benefiting from being part of the wider Hong Kong Soul programme. It's a collaborative effort, and we're fortunate to work with an incredibly committed team on both the Hong Kong and Edinburgh sides.

Several of these titles — Departure Is My Homecoming, Gemini / Romantic 4:48am — hint at questions of identity, belonging, and duality. Is that a theme running through Hong Kong Soul's work more broadly, or specific to this year's programme?

Rather than setting a predetermined theme each year, we begin by looking for compelling artistic voices and outstanding work. It's often only afterwards that connections begin to emerge.

This year, questions of belonging, memory, identity and human connection naturally surfaced across several productions, even though they were created independently. We think that's one of the strengths of curating a showcase like Hong Kong Soul; it allows audiences to discover unexpected conversations between different works and art forms without imposing a single interpretation.

For Fringe audiences unfamiliar with Hong Kong Soul, which of the four shows would you point them to first as an entry point, and why?

That's a difficult choice because each production represents a different facet of Hong Kong's performing arts. If you're looking for something energetic and immediately accessible, Boom Boom Battle of the Big Bad Bosses is a fantastic introduction, combining music, theatre and humour in a way that appeals across cultures.

For audiences interested in more reflective, intimate storytelling, Departure Is My Homecoming offers a deeply moving experience, while Gemini / Romantic 4:48am showcases the strength of Hong Kong's contemporary dance scene. Sound Strokes, meanwhile, perfectly captures Hong Kong Soul's commitment to cultural exchange by bringing Chinese and Scottish traditions into creative conversation.

Ultimately, there isn't a single "best" starting point; that's exactly the spirit of Hong Kong Soul. We invite audiences to choose the performance that speaks to them, or better still, experience more than one and discover the richness and diversity of Hong Kong's performing arts for themselves.

Hong Kong Soul is bringing four shows to this year’s Edinburgh Fringe all at Space UK: 

Gemini / Romantic 4:48am 7-16 August at 17.30 at DanceBase. Ticket information here: HK Soul Showcase: Gemini and Romantic 4:48am | Edinburgh Festival Fringe Boom Boom Battle of the Big Bad Bosses 7-15 August at 16.30 at Big. Ticket information here: Boom Boom Battle of the Big Bad Bosses | Edinburgh Festival Fringe Departure Is My Homecoming 7-15 August at 12:10 at Space 2. Ticket information here: Departure Is My Homecoming | Edinburgh Festival Fringe Sound Strokes: A Harmonious Blend of Chinese and Scottish Music, 8-15 August at Ampitheatre. Ticket information here:Sound Strokes: A Harmonious Blend of Chinese and Scottish Music | Edinburgh Festival Fringe