Songs of Innocence and Experience
In a world losing its innocence, what does it mean to grow up?
University students are caught between innocence and experience; between respecting conventions and rejecting the old in favour of the new.
Songs of Innocence and Experience was created by this group of young people, reflecting on their personal experiences growing up. Their intertextual work exists in relation to John Milton’s Paradise Lost; much in the same way as William Blake’s collection of illustrated poetry, Songs of Innocence and of Experience.
John Milton wrote Paradise Lost after the English Civil War, describing how a group of fallen angels lost the war in heaven, and mankind fell by eating the forbidden fruit of knowledge. This great and controversial work inspired countless later works. Can Milton’s story, along with our own experiences and reflections on growing up, help us to find a way to face ourselves, the present, and the future?
*With kind permission of Rooftop Productions
University students are caught between innocence and experience; between respecting conventions and rejecting the old in favour of the new.
Songs of Innocence and Experience was created by this group of young people, reflecting on their personal experiences growing up. Their intertextual work exists in relation to John Milton’s Paradise Lost; much in the same way as William Blake’s collection of illustrated poetry, Songs of Innocence and of Experience.
John Milton wrote Paradise Lost after the English Civil War, describing how a group of fallen angels lost the war in heaven, and mankind fell by eating the forbidden fruit of knowledge. This great and controversial work inspired countless later works. Can Milton’s story, along with our own experiences and reflections on growing up, help us to find a way to face ourselves, the present, and the future?
Devised by
Michelle Li*, Ivor Houlker* and Cast
Co-Directors
Michelle Li, Ivor Houlker
Music Director
Ivor Houlker
Choreographer
Lee On-sang
Set & Costume Designer
Tracy Giu Yuen-man
Associate Set Designer
Dominic Yau Man-tat
Lighting Designer
Bills Tin
Sound Designer
Allison Fong Tsz-ching
Video Designer
Fong Hiu-tan
Spear Movement Choreographer
Chew Yu-yeung
Choral Practice Leaders
Sum Cheuk-yiu, Cheung Cheuk-hang
Production Manager
Dickson Chiang Tak-chun
Collaborating Cast
Chew Yu-yeung, Lee On-sang, Lo Man-chak, Mak Ho-tin, Caroline Chan, Cheung Cheuk-hang, Mok Kok-pong, Sin Lok-yan, Sum Cheuk-yiu, Lau Ka-ying, Chin Wing-kar, Sung Kwok-tung, Tsang Yuen-lam, Wu Lui-fung
*With kind permission of Rooftop Productions
