The London Philharmonic Orchestra, jazz saxophonist Ornette Coleman and theatre legend Peter Brook will be among the headline acts of the Hong Kong Arts Festival. The festival, which is now in its 36th year, is taking place from February 14 to March 16, 2008.

The arts festival brings renowned artists from all over the world to Hong Kong's stages. The festival also demonstrates home-grown talent across a programme of theatre, music, opera and dance. Next year, the list will include some of the finest artists from Hong Kong, China, the USA and Europe.

Theatre programme's highlights will include a series of 5 short plays by Samuel Beckett, Fragments, which are directed by his friend, Peter Brook.

Two productions exclusively created for the Hong Kong Arts Festival will represent Hong Kong theatre: Shakespeare's bloody tragedy Titus Andronicus and The Shape of Things by Neil LaBute, while Lin Zhaohua, the most prominent director in China, will present a production of The Master Builder of Ibsen on the stage.

To give audiences a rare opportunity to enjoy an authentic, 100% Italian opera, Teatro Regio di Parma will present the Asian premiere of Giuseppe Verdi's monumental opera Rigoletto.

In the Hong Kong Arts Festival, all the events will be cherry pie for English-speaking audiences, with a few events in English while others presenting subtitles for foreign audiences.

The festival will take place at different places in Hong Kong including HK Cultural Centre, HK City Hall and the Lyric Theatre HKAPA.