Clockenflap Music & Arts Festival is set to redefine the boundaries of live performance with “Minimax: The Planets”, a groundbreaking theatrical experience premiering from 5–7 December 2025. Supported by the Arts Capacity Development Funding Scheme under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government, this innovative production fuses theatre, music, and movement to transform transitional spaces into immersive realms of creativity and connection.
Conceptualised by Jay Hofmann-Forster, Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Clockenflap, and designed by Obie Chan of Screw Up Studio, Minimax combines large-scale mobile sets, live music, dance, visual art, and audience participation to create a fluid and kinetic performance environment. Written and directed by Benjamin Smith of Svalbard Company (Sweden), the production reimagines Gustav Holst’s classical masterpiece The Planets as a living theatrical journey — where each planet is personified through a blend of electronic soundscapes, contemporary jazz, street dance, hip-hop, voguing, circus arts, and modern performance.
Staying true to Holst’s communal vision, Minimax: The Planets unites Hong Kong’s vibrant creative community. The show features emerging local jazz musicians, a community choir, dance ensembles, and students from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, under the choreography of Leila McMillan. Together, they weave mythology, folklore, and cultural narratives into a powerful exploration of universal human themes — including tension, joy, responsibility, abundance, and transcendence. Each performance invites collaboration, empowering artists to shape the experience in real time with their energy and voice.
Produced by Carmen Cheng, with Technical Direction by Wayne Wong, Choreography by CK Wong Sze Ki, and Costume Design by Matt Hui, Minimax: The Planets embodies the spirit of Hong Kong’s artistic innovation. The production’s modular and mobile format transforms the festival grounds into a living stage — a “theatre without walls” that invites audiences to become part of the story.
“Minimax is about pushing the boundaries of what live performance can be,” said Hofmann-Forster. “We wanted to transform transient spaces into places of connection and wonder, where audiences don’t just watch but truly experience the art. At its heart, Minimax celebrates Hong Kong’s can-do spirit and its extraordinary creative community, while fostering collaboration with international artists.”
With Minimax: The Planets, Clockenflap once again reaffirms its reputation as a cultural trailblazer — creating an experience that transcends traditional theatre and celebrates the infinite potential of artistic expression.