Yau Ma Tei Theatre

Yau Ma Tei Theatre

Support for the Development of Cantonese Opera Cantonese opera is an emblem of our local culture. For the preservation, promotion and development of Cantonese opera, the Yau Ma Tei Theatre and the Red Brick Building, both graded historic buildings, have been revitalised as a territory-wide performing arts venue named Yau Ma Tei Theatre. It was officially opened on 17 July 2012, designated for promoting Chinese opera activities, in particular Cantonese opera. The venue is equipped with performing and rehearsal facilities to encourage and support the budding and upcoming Cantonese opera troupes. Through the implementation of the Venue Partnership Scheme, it helps promote the venue as a popular training and performing venue as well as cradle for nurturing Cantonese opera talents.

Yau Ma Tei Theatre

Yau Ma Tei Theatre provides a 300-seat auditorium, a stage with an orchestra pit, a dressing room, a sound and lighting control room, a foyer and a box office. Together with the function rooms in the Red Brick Building, it is suitable for holding Chinese opera performances and related activities.

Yau Ma Tei Theatre is easily accessible by the general public. It can be reached via MTR Yau Ma Tei Station Exit B2 and public transportation routes through main traffic roads in Kowloon. It is about a 5 minutes’ walk from the MTR Yau Ma Tei Station and public transport stops on Nathan Road.

Built in 1930, Yau Ma Tei Theatre is the only surviving pre-World War II theatre in Kowloon District. Its characteristic features include the two pillars at the front entrance, the Chinese pitched roof, the Art Deco façade and Dutch gable walls, the steel trusses and timber purlins for roof support, and the original proscenium and interior walls of the stage. Yau Ma Tei Theatre ceased operation in July 1998. It was accorded as a Grade 2 historic building by the Antiquities Advisory Board in the same year.

Yau Ma Tei Theatre was officially opened on 17 July 2012, designated for promoting Chinese opera activities, in particular Cantonese opera. The venue is equipped with performing and rehearsal facilities to encourage and support the budding and upcoming Cantonese opera troupes.

Built in 1895, the Red Brick Building was formerly the Engineer’s Office for the old Water Pumping Station on Shanghai Street. It is the oldest surviving building of a water pumping station under the Hong Kong Water Supplies Department. After the station ceased operation in 1911, various buildings in the complex were either demolished or converted for other purposes, with the exception of the Red Brick Building which was classified as a Grade 1 historic building by the Antiquities Advisory Board in 2000. Its special features include the red brick façade, cast iron rainwater pipes, cast iron hopper heads, arched verandahs and granite coping stones, knee stones, skew corbels, and pad stones to gable.