Venue: Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre Theatre
Date: 14-16 July
Enquiries: 2370 1044
Website: hkiac.gov.hk

A fan of slapstick comedy, but inexplicably tired of watching the same, classic, skit where an unwitting dude accidentally gets hit in the groin? Unlikely as it may seem such a scenario is entirely possible. Whether you are old enough to have been Groucho Marx’s wingman or just prone to waxing nostalgic for the good old days when America’s Funniest Home Videos was Officially the World’s Funniest Bit of Telly, KAPUT might just be the slippery banana skin on your street of dreams.

First seen at Clockenflap last year, Australia’s Tom Flanagan flings himself – and his bunch of props – around the stage in a never-ending quest for some serious comic relief. Ever since its debut at the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe, the show has been delighting audiences with its hapless heroics, all involving the not-so imaginatively named projectionist Mr. Fixit, a movie screen with a big hole in it, popcorn, ladders, planks and a vacuum cleaner. Throw in lashings of audience participation and the show is a recipe for delightful disaster and cackle-inducing chaos. It’s suitable for the whole family, so grab the kids and head off for some creative clowning.

Venue: HKREP Blackbox
Date: 1-4, 6-10 July
Enquiries: 3172 1780
Website: facebook.com/arjoewong

Despite the title conjuring images of a masked crusader, scaling buildings and fighting crime, audiences will find this particular drama a far more cerebral affair than your average comic-book-inspired theatrics. The brainchild of Joe Wong, one of Hong Kong’s most well-known thespians, RTHK 2 radio DJ and professional MC, Where is my Batman? is Joe’s first solo performance. Conceived jointly with co-playwright Kwok Chui Yee, the show focuses on a self-centred man who moves to the city with dreams of wealth and success, only to find that he has totally lost all direction. What follows is an introspective piece that dwells upon darkness and despair, on occasion rivalling the caped crusader’s well-documented darker side. Attempting to find an answer to life’s more esoteric questions amidst the tragedies that purvey modern life, Where is my Batman?hopes to shed some light on one man’s total hopelessness by answering the perennial question as to just who and where is your favourite superhero when you need him the most? It is solemn stuff for sure.

Venue: The Venetian Macao, Venetian Theatre
Date: 22 July-7 Aug
Enquiries: 2882 8818
Website: hkticketing.com.hk

The wait is over Shrek: The Musical is finally here. It is almost impossible to think of anything that screams “musical” more than a flatulent, green ogre with a guttural accent and a talking donkey. This particular incarnation of Shrek comes to Asia pre-packaged as a Broadway smash hit. As part of its first ever international tour, Shrek will be making his way to Macao with his doubtless donkey in tow. The musical boasts a book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Olivier Award-winner Jeanine Tesori. Based on the original animated hit film starring the vocal talents of Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz, this is sure to be a favourite for Shrek faithfuls and newfound fans alike. Brimming with unlikely heroes, potty humour for young and old alike, as well as hum-worthy musical numbers, this is sure to be an unforgettable night out for the whole family. Appearing for a limited run only, be sure to grab your tickets soon or be left ogre-green with envy when your friends simultaneously break into song reminiscing about their night out in Far Far Away!

Venue: The Fringe Club
Date: 18-24 July
Enquiries: 2521 7251
Website: www.hkfringeclub.com

A festival with something of an identity crisis – born in Melbourne, featuring international acts and appearing across Asia – is set for another rollicking rollercoaster ride to more than 80 regional destinations across Australia before taking to the skies and ravaging Asia with its jokes about ’roos and Tony Abbott. Not content to be contained within the land down under, the festival, featuring a selection of Oceania’s best “four-x” swigging, shrimp barbying comedians will be making stops in Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Penang. This year’s selection of antipodean antics include Ivan Aristguieta, who is being billed as Australia’s favourite Venezuelan comedian, Cal Wilson, a perennial favourite on Aussie TV, Phil Wang, a UK funnyman, Sam Taunton, who broke onto the scene at last year’s RAW Comedy National Final, and Bob Franklin, an award-winning comedian, writer, director, author and actor. Almost sure to be Oz’s most entertaining export since Neighbours, this show is scheduled to run for four nights at the Fringe Club.

Venue: KITEC Hall, Kowloon Bay
Date: 19 June
Enquiries: 3188 1519
Website: hkticketing.com

Graham Russell (the singer/songwriter) and Russell Hitchcock (the lead vocalist) are, of course, far better known as Air Supply, the Australian duo that has been softly rocking out the hits now for 40 years or more. They dominated the charts in the 80s with songs likeEvery Woman in the World, All Out of Love, Even the Nights are Better and Making Love out of Nothing at All. For a generation, some of their most cherished moments took place to an Air Supply soundtrack. To this day, they are still in huge demand worldwide. Just last year, they performed more than 90 shows in some 20 different countries.

In line with this, Ovation Entertainment – the promoters behind the group’s impending visit to Hong Kong – is promising a magical and memorable evening for all who attend Air Supply’s June 19 concert. Indeed, if past showings are anything to go by, it should prove an unforgettable celebration of love and friendship, as well as a delightfully sentimental journey. Of their some 30 album releases, many of the most popular ones have actually been live recordings, audio snapshots of the true joy of attending one of their shows.

Venue: Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Date: 30 June-2 July
Enquiries: 3749 9941
Website: legendinfinity.com

Written and directed by Yuen Man-wah, Right Here Waiting started life as a straight drama back in 1994. Even then, Yuen had a hankering to add musical elements to his production. And now he has. Now the story of how Bride’s Pool – one of Hong Kong’s most haunted locales – got its name has returned to the stage as a full-blown musical.

Early last century, Yee, the only survivor of twins born in Tai Po, met and fell in love with a young boy called Tin. The village head, however, had already prevailed upon his son, Zu, to propose to Yee, with her parents consenting to the union. Yee, though, was a westernised girl, a free spirit who opposed the feudalism of village life. Tin, however, was too afraid to resist. On her wedding day, Yee jumped from the sedan chair carrying her into the large pool that subsequently took her title. Tin and Zu then wondered endlessly about what had actually caused her to take such drastic action, before ultimately realising that her dead twin may have well played a part. To be honest, as musicals go, it’s not exactly The Jungle Book.

Venue: Connecting Space Hong Kong
Date: 17-26 June
Enquiries: N/A
Website: facebook.com/events

Joan Cornellà, the renowned Spanish cartoonist, is set to make his Asian debut this month when a solo exhibition of his characteristic works opens in North Point. A renowned master of the graphic arts, Cornellà is rightly famous for his unsettling, surreal and blackly humorous comic strips as well as his many other fine artworks. He has a truly global following, with his typical works consisting of wordless, six-panel strips, all addressing disturbing themes and accompanied by his trademark grotesque imagery, all neatly packaged into brightly coloured and beautifully rendered illustrations. His self-avowed aim is to oblige us to re-evaluate many of our more hypocritical feelings, albeit in his own obliquely humorous fashion.

Throughout the 10-day exhibition, attendees will get the chance to both admire and acquire fine examples of his work, including unique canvases, limited-edition illustrations, T-shirts and books. Cornellà will be there for at least part of the time, signing copies of his new book, Zonzo, and taking questions from those who may be keen to get a better understanding of his unique imagination. A wide array of other distractions – including DJ sessions – is also promised.

Venue: Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Date: 24-26 June
Enquiries: 3103 1815
Website: hkdance.com

The Storm Riders, a hugely popular Hong Kong comic, was published for more than 25 years. In 2014, it was reimagined as Storm Clouds, a vivid and exciting dance drama. The fierce battle between Bo Ging-wan (Cloud) and Lip Fung (Wind), as well as the ethereal dance moves of Hung Chi, the heroine of the piece, combined together to form a complex love triangle that invariably wowed the audiences of the day. It went on to win high praise and several trophies at the Hong Kong Dance Awards. Now that phenomenal combination of dance, drama and martial arts is set to return to the Hong Kong stage this month.

Many Hong Kongers grew up readingThe Storm Riders, a saga that now extends to some 700 chapters across three volumes, complete with a never less than gripping plot and cast of fascinating characters. Storm Clouds takes all of the most loved aspects of the comic book and transplants them to the stage with more than a hint of digital magic, a gleaming water pool, sophisticated lighting and an award-wining musical score. It’s high-action dance drama all the way, guaranteed to deliver a stunning evening of entertainment to fans old and new.