Cover ‘Une Histoire d’Amour’ at French May 2026 (Photo: courtesy of Monica Wong)
‘Une Histoire d’Amour’ at French May 2026 (Photo: courtesy of Monica Wong)
1 / 1
Presented as part of French May, ‘Une Histoire d’Amour’ celebrates a diverse array of art forms—ballet, contemporary dance, opera, jazz and Chinese acrobatics—and presents a cross-cultural love story
When Une Histoire d’Amour opens at the Lyric Theatre of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts on May 29, 2026, audiences in Hong Kong will witness an ambitious and emotionally charged production where East meets West, and love is expressed not in words, but in movement.
The show, which is part of this year’s French May festival, intertwines multiple art forms—ballet, contemporary dance, opera, jazz, and Chinese acrobatics—to tell the story of two souls living parallel lives: a Chinese girl growing up in Shanghai and a French boy in Paris. As they journey from childhood to adulthood, their destinies nearly, but never quite, meet. Their lives, though unfolding continents apart, are drawn together in a dreamlike pas de deux that transcends language and distance.
Bringing this vision to life are producer Monica Wong and artistic director Šarūnas Greblikas, who together have assembled an international ensemble of distinguished artists. Among the special performances are guest appearances by Francis Yip, Hong Kong’s legendary songstress, and Laura Fygi, the celebrated Dutch jazz vocalist.
Above Francis Yip, who will be performing at ‘Une Histoire d’Amour’, a production at French May 2026 (Photo: courtesy of Yip and Monica Wong)
Francis Yip, who will be performing at ‘Une Histoire d’Amour’, a production at French May 2026 (Photo: courtesy of Yip and Monica Wong)
1 / 1
For Wong, whose accomplished career in banking once placed her at the helm of elite client events, this production marks the continuation of a deeply personal commitment to the arts. “I have always loved the performing arts,” she says. “My aunt is the soprano who first starred in a full-length opera in Hong Kong after returning from her studies in Italy. My father was a businessman and my mother was an enthusiast of Peking opera. My uncle taught music. I loved dancing and I played the piano—Chopin’s Fantaisie Impromptu was my showpiece whenever we had guests.”
The idea for Une Histoire d’Amour was first conceived, she says, “after a friend’s dinner where the guests included the French Consul General and people from French May.” The programme’s cultural context inspired her to imagine “a love story between a Chinese girl in Shanghai and a French boy in Paris.”
The production’s design—bridging Shanghai’s lyrical grace and Paris’s theatrical energy—echoes Wong’s own life story. “I was born in the French Concession in Shanghai,” she adds. “During my work years, I spent a few years in Europe, including six months in Paris, which became my favourite city in Europe.”
Above Laura Fygi, who will be performing at ‘Une Histoire d’Amour’, a production at French May 2026 (Photo: courtesy of Fygi and Monica Wong)
Laura Fygi, who will be performing at ‘Une Histoire d’Amour’, a production at French May 2026 (Photo: courtesy of Fygi and Monica Wong)
1 / 1
Wong’s shift from finance to production was driven by conviction as much as curiosity. In banking, she says, organising client events drew her closer to performance creation. “We produced at least one big event every year for client entertainment. I used to get very excited about the event by coming up with the idea every year and my production team would then take it forward.”
Now, she brings that same precision and enthusiasm to charity and cultural projects. “Performing arts are very often under-appreciated,” she says. “The effort an artist has to put into training to produce the piece of music, song, dance or act to a good level is beyond normal people’s imagination. Now that I have time and the ability to contribute, I try to support selective charities by helping them with quality functions, which include performing arts.”
Read more: Avantgardey returns to Hong Kong this March to perform Cantonese hits and an energetic dance
Above Xi’an Acrobatic Troupe, which will be performing at ‘Une Histoire d’Amour’, a production at French May 2026 (Photo: courtesy of Fygi and Monica Wong)
Xi’an Acrobatic Troupe, which will be performing at ‘Une Histoire d’Amour’, a production at French May 2026 (Photo: courtesy of Fygi and Monica Wong)
1 / 1
For artistic director Šarūnas Greblikas, himself a former competitive Latin dancer, the challenge lies in unifying the production’s multitude of styles into a coherent emotional journey. “The performers for each scene are purposely selected to fit the story,” he says. “Each dance is specifically choreographed; each song is carefully chosen. I try to find the art forms which make every scene exciting and best to tell the story.”
His background in competitive dance, he says, has taught him that “for all dance forms, it is first and foremost the connection with oneself, the ability to feel and express emotions, or storytelling through movement to music. It is always about relationships.”
The staging itself will be richly atmospheric. “We will use different audio and visual in combination with lighting to inspire the audience,” he says, describing how technology will help create the sense of two cities while sustaining their spiritual connection.
Above Šarūnas Greblikas, the artistic director of the French May production of ‘Une Histoire D’amour’ (Photo: courtesy of Monica Wong)
Above Monica Wong, the producer of ‘Une Histoire D’amour’, which is part of French May (Photo: courtesy of Monica Wong)
Šarūnas Greblikas, the artistic director of the French May production of ‘Une Histoire D’amour’ (Photo: courtesy of Monica Wong)
1 / 2
The evening will culminate in an unusual finale, as guests move from the auditorium to the stage itself for dinner—a transformation that symbolises intimacy and inclusion. “From watching the show in the audience to moving onto the stage for dinner would be a new and exciting experience,” says Wong. “It would also be a format where the Community Chest could ask for more contribution. After all, it is a charity event.”
Indeed, the Community Chest of Hong Kong will be the beneficiary of the evening, chosen, as Wong emphasises, because “they are the largest charity without government funding and therefore able to move quickly when there is a crisis.”
Wong hopes the show will also inspire future generations. “I am delighted that audiences will have the chance to see such a spectacular music and dance show in an exciting and unconventional format,” she says. “I hope it will inspire young people to appreciate the beauty of the diverse acts. You never know, maybe some will be inspired to follow their dreams.”
As French May’s Une Histoire d’Amour prepares for its premiere, its vision feels both grand and intimate—an artistic celebration that crosses borders, disciplines, and hearts, proving that sometimes, love truly is “never spoken, but forever felt.”
Topics
Zabrina is the Senior Editor, Arts and Culture of Tatler Hong Kong. She specialises in performing arts, visual art and film. Her wanderlust was first fuelled by the Mighty Rovers Antarctica Expedition 2010. Over the years, she has interviewed A-list artists and filmmakers, including Oscar winners Chlóe Zhao and Tim Yip, Golden Horse winner Sylvia Chang, In the Mood for Love cinematographer Christopher Doyle, Pachinko author Min Jin Lee, and Coachella’s first Chinese solo singer Jackson Wang. She won gold at the WAN-IFRA Asian Media Awards for her 2021 feature on the waves of hate crimes targeting Asian Americans.
