Biography
Ata Wong graduated from the School of Dance of HKAPA and studied at École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris. He was one of the few Chinese artists who completed the three-year programme and obtained his teaching qualification in Paris.
Ata won the Hong Kong Arts Development Awards for Young Artist (Drama) in 2017. He received the award for Outstanding Performance in Promoting Arts and Culture from the Secretary for Home Affairs’ Commendation Scheme in 2019. He was the recipient of the Asian Cultural Society’s Altius Fellowship 2021. He acquired a 6-month individual fellowship and set off to Japan to study traditional and contemporary art forms. He was Artist-in-Residence at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (School of Drama) (2021-2022).
In 2023, Ata learnt Noh from Juro Zenchiku, a Kyogen master of the Okura school. In the same year, he is studying Kendo, exploring the connection between theatrical training and sword skills, learning Kengido (Original Samurai Method-Kengido) from Tetsuro Shimaguchi, and earning the second-level Mugairyu-iaido qualification. During the stay, he also learnt Nishikawa Ryu from Nishikawa Ichiu to explore the Japanese traditional arts.
Ata is now a full-time lecturer of Physical Narrative / Musical Theatre at the HKAPA (School of Drama). His school production includes Le Malade Imaginaire and Acte San Paroles.
During his time in Europe, Wong was involved in performances by various theatre groups and directors, including a theatre documentary named Sur un fil/ The Tightrope (Brook Production) co-directed by the world-famous Peter Brook and Simon Brook, PAN (Compagnie Irina Brook) and Princess Amazonia (Phoebus Productions).
Ata founded Théâtre de la Feuille in 2010 and served as Director and Artistic Director.
Ata was nominated for Best Director (Comedy/Farce) for Papa at the Hong Kong Drama Awards in 2018. In 2019 and 2020, L’Orphelin won him Best Director and Best Overall Performance at Hong Kong Theatre Libre, and Director of the Year at IATC (HK) Critics Awards.
Recent directorial works include: Cities of Light, French May Arts Festival; Cinderella, Hong Kong Ballet, Fall and Flow, The Lost Adults, #1314, Théâtre de la Feuille, etc. His concert choreography credits include: four songs at Sammi Cheng’s #FOLLOWMi Concert 2019 presented by Media Asia; Yoyo Sham’s Home is… Concert 2022 presented by Sunny Idea. Movement direction credits include: Johnnie To’s crime thriller Three, and Ng Yuen-fai’s sci-fi action film Warriors of Future.
Ata often conducts physical acting, movement training, workshops and courses for various institutions and organisations. Previous partners include the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, the Hong Kong Arts Festival, City Contemporary Dance Company, Chung Ying Theatre Company, Actors’ Family, Shanghai Theatre Academy, Peking University, Tsinghua University, Tianjin Conservatory of Music, Guangzhou Opera House, International Theatre Festival (Croatia), Festival d’Avignon “Off” (France), Edinburgh Festival Fringe (UK) and Wu Zhen Theatre Festival.
Ata is now a member in the Art Form Panels (Festival) in the Programme and Development Committee at LCSD, an Artistic Advisor (Drama) of Hong Kong Arts Development Council and the Advisory Board for Wong Bing Lai Music and Performing Arts Unit at Lingnan University, to act as an interface between Government/ industry/ commercial sector/ the community at large and the performing arts programmes and courses, formulating and developing sustainable strategies for the performing arts field.