Presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, "Asia+ Festival" will be rolled out from September to November 2024.  Under the auspices of the National 14th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong is taking an all-round approach to develop into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.  "Asia+ Festival" celebrates the cultural diversity of Asia and the Belt and Road regions, showcasing both traditional essences and contemporary facets from the regions.  The festival offers a rich array of events appealing to all tastes, including stage performances, exhibitions, outdoor carnival and film screenings.

Are you addicted to your smartphone?  Instant messaging apps offer us a myriad of ways to communicate: we can text, send voice messages, emojis and stickers, share photos and locations, etc.  It is no wonder that we like to type with our heads down rather than talking face-to-face.

In the multimedia dance performance The Accountants, these everyday communication methods take centre stage.  At one end of the dialogue is an 18-year-old boy who is confused about his future, and at the other end is his beloved aunt.  The audience also takes part in the performance by having their opinions collected and shared on the screen.  In an age where all information is at our fingertips, let's consider how communication and data can help us understand ourselves and others.

Against the backdrop of their friendship, another story unfolds on stage.  Accountants representing China and India playfully battle it out – not just through data, but through dance.  They each adhere to a set of rules, gather data from the audience and the world.  As the computer programme processes, ranks, displays the data, and informs the accountants what the world is like in quantified terms, they continuously adjust themselves and strive for better results.  Can they break free of society's expectations in the era of big data?

Renowned British multi-disciplinary artist Keith Khan teams up with Mainland China's contemporary dance luminary Xie Xin and the hotshot Indian choreographer Terence Lewis to create this uplifting, playful, yet surreal visual spectacle that invites you on a global journey right from your seat.

The Accountants is commissioned by Factory International Manchester and Asia+ Festival (Hong Kong).  Produced by Factory International Manchester.