HK Cultural Centre approaches its quarter century with uncertainty but still a lot going for it
As its quarter century approaches, the tired but still game Cultural Centre is looking forward to the West Kowloon District challenge
It may be one of the biggest architectural eyesores in Hong Kong, but the Cultural Centre, which celebrates its 25th anniversary on Saturday, continues to be this city's premier performing arts venue. It plays host to many of the world's greatest artists and offers local audiences the best of classical music, ballet and dance, Chinese opera and theatre.
But with the West Kowloon Cultural District looming on the horizon, where does this Tsim Sha Tsui landmark stand at 25 and what do the next 25 years hold?
I first went to the Cultural Centre in 1996 and remember being impressed by the modern feel and good sightlines of the Grand Theatre auditorium - not to mention ticket prices well below what you'd pay in major European or American cities to see top-quality performances.
Eighteen years later, while programming is still strong and ticket prices remain reasonable by international standards, the 1980s building looks dated and its facilities need an upgrade.
Seating lacks legroom. More and better toilets are needed - the recent renovation of the foyer toilets, welcome in itself, has made the ones upstairs look worse by contrast. There's no proper bar or restaurant to make going to a concert or ballet a complete night out the way it is at equivalent venues in other "world cities".
