Together in Search of Light: Ethnotheatre on Social Workers
Screening and Conversation with the Director
Sunday, 15 November 2026 | 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. | The Nick Mirkopoulos Screening Room, Room 004, Accolade East Building, Keele Campus, 91ÑÇÉ«
Join us for a screening of Together in Search of Light: Ethnotheatre on Social Workers, an ethnotheatre production by Pants Theatre Production that explores the lives and challenges of social workers amidst changing times in Hong Kong. Through their personal stories and perspectives, the film offers a moving look at the relationship between social work and society. The event also features an engaging post-screening conversation with director Hoi-fai Wu.
The screening is in Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles and runs for approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, followed by a conversation with the director.
About the film
Pants Theatre Production has previously produced Estate Agent and On the Record with the spirit of ethnodrama, focusing respectively on the real estate agents and journalists who are closely related to Hong Kong, but have rarely been featured in the Hong Kong theatre. Social workers are at the forefront of society, facing different levels of the community every day. This time, via the viewpoints of social workers, Together in Search of Light will examine the relationship and development between Hong Kong society and social workers, hoping to search for a better future for fellow Hongkongers.
In recent years, Hong Kong society has undergone tumultuous changes. Whether in terms of the systems or working environments, social workers have faced tremendous challenges. Premiered in 2021, the acclaimed work Together in Search of Light is now back as a video screening, for us to revisit the interviews with social workers from different generations and backgrounds, to listen to their voices and stories, and understand how they handled various problems related to themselves, service users, and society. Following their steps, we aim to find that flickering light in our hearts that remains unchanged.
Hoi-fai Wu, director of Together in Search of Light
Artistic director and co-founder of Pants Theatre Production, an independent theatre company in Hong Kong, receiving the Yearly Grant of Hong Kong Arts Development Council. His concern about the society and the history is reflected in his artistic vision and original works, while his acute sense of literary language has informed his translation outputs. His effort in advocating documentary theatre was recognized in 2017 with the Award of the Secretary for Home Affairs’ Commendation Scheme, presented by the Home Affairs Bureau of the Hong Kong Government.
Pants Theatre Production
Founded in 1995, Pants Theatre Production was restructured in 2012 with Hoi-fai Wu as Artistic Director and was developed into a professional theatre company.
Our work lies in theatre while we keep a vigilant eye on our community and environment. We have pioneered the 1st Documentary Theatre Festival in Hong Kong in 2017, since then there have been 3 editions. We have created a number of remarkable theatre productions relating to various social issues. Recent critically acclaimed productions included Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde, Quills, Sweet Mandarin, Gweilo, Together in Search of Light, 1967.
All are welcome! Please .
This is a Hong Kong Studies Group event.
For more information: hongkong[at]yorku.ca.
