Blue Oceans Go Back to the Future

by Matt Ming

Nature was the setting of a theatre performance aimed at spreading the environmental message about tackling Hong Kong’s marine litter problem. The October performance is among six projects selected under WWF-Hong Kong’s Blue Ocean Incubator programme aimed at helping return local seas to health.

The Blue Ocean Theatre performance got underway in an ampitheatre on Butterfly Beach Park in Tuen Mun, before moving on to a stone bridge and ending at the beach. Eschewing the traditional theatre format, the five-member team used the natural environment as their stage, integrating science and suspenseful elements, such as time travel and riddles, to weave their ocean story

Young participants get a preview of what’s ahead in the Blue Ocean Theatre performance at Butterfly Beach in Tuen Mun. Photo credit: WWF-Hong Kong

A mystery bag kicked off the conversation between narrator and audience.

In the park amphitheatre, the narrator started by introducing facts about Hong Kong’s marine environment. Then the audience was directed to move to the next venue, only to encounter an unclaimed bag, marking the prelude to the performance.

Anti-environment detractors race to find Ah-Chuen to prevent him from warning the current generation about what lies ahead if nothing’s done to save our oceans. Photo credit: WWF-Hong Kong

Using objects in the bag as clues to the owner, the audience learns that the bag belonged to Ah-chuen, who’s from 70 years into the future — 2069, the year when Earth stopped becoming a viable place for humans to live, in part due to marine litter and seafood depletion. Ah-chuen decided to travel back in time in hopes of rewriting history.

But hot on his heels are representatives from tech firms that have been benefiting from the environmental marine degradation, which created a market for things such fake seafood. They, too travelled back in time in a bid to thwart the protagonist.

Hunting for clues left by Ah-Chuen to warn the current generation to act now to protect the world’s oceans. Photo credit: WWF-Hong Kong

With the help of the audience, young Ah-Chuen (above right) deciphers messages from her future self. Photo credit: WWF-Hong Kong

Upon arriving in 2019, Ah-chuen found his younger self, leaving a message for him to go to Butterfly Beach in order to find out how to save our oceans now, for the future.

Through various interactive activities, the young Ah-Chuen along with members of the audience slowly uncovered the clues left by Ah-Chuen of the future, warning them of what lies ahead if society fails to protect the marine environment.

During the four shows performed over two days, the interactive 75-minute performance, which was accompanied by display panels promoting conservation, helped audience reflect on the human impact on the marine environment.

It starts with us: young Ah Chuen helps the audience make sense of the task ahead to ensure Hong Kong’s marine environment continues to thrive for generations to come. Photo credit: WWF-Hong Kong

According to team member Winny Lo, using drama to illustrate the threats facing the ocean gave them the flexibility to create thought-provoking scenarios.

She said that in the story, the workers of the technology company in 2069 represented segments in society who have been profiting at the expense of nature. “We have been continually demanding more from the ocean, but have we ever thought of returning the favour? I hope the audience will reflect on how we can together give back to our oceans,” said Winny.

In putting together the performance, she said the team received strong support from WWF, including when applying for the performance venue and other logistics, butimportantly, access to science-based information to share with the audience.

“The process of creating the script doesn’t only require searching different information, but we also had to look at various environmental issues. WWF provided strong support in these areas and mentorship to help turn the project into reality.”