Booking secures a place at an ISTA TAPS event by estimating the number of participants and paying a deposit. Registration finalises participant details, ensuring accurate planning for theatre tickets, catering, and transportation.

📅 Booking

Opens: 1:00 pm UK time on Monday, 31 March 2025

Before booking, ensure your trip is viable by checking:
• Travel restrictions and visa requirements
• Parental approvals
• School authorisation

At the time of booking, organisations must provide:
• Total number of students
• Total number of educators
• Lead educator chaperone contact details

💰 Deposit & Confirmation
Upon booking, you will receive an invoice for a 25% deposit, based on the number of students booked. This deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable and secures your reservation. Bookings are fully confirmed once the deposit is received within 30 days.

📌 Only book spaces you are certain you can fill to prevent unnecessary reductions at registration.

📝 Registration
‍Opens: 1:00 pm UK time on Monday, 31 March 2025
Closes: 11:59 pm UK time on Thursday 4 September 2025

Once registration opens, schools that have confirmed their students should register as soon as possible. All registrations must be completed by 4 September 2025 to finalise event logistics.

At the time of registration, organisations must provide:
• Finalised participant details
• Travel information

‍🔄 Changes in Student Numbers‍

• Fewer students than booked: Deposits for non-attending students are forfeited. (e.g. If you book 15 students but only 10 attend, the deposit for 5 will not be refunded.)‍
• Additional students: A 25% deposit per added student will be invoiced.

‍⏳ Waitlist
If the event reaches capacity, it will be marked “Waitlist”. If you wish to be added:

1. Email the Event Manager with your requested number of students and teachers.

2. Spaces will be offered in the order waitlist requests are received.

🛏️ Accommodation: Participants are responsible for arranging their own accommodation in Hong Kong. ISTA recommends a 3-night stay, checking in on Thursday 2 October 2025, and checking out on Saturday 5th October 2025. Our host is putting together a list of hotel suggestions.  Check back a few days before bookings open for more information 

Le Méridien Hong Kong, Cyberport
‍100 Cyberport Road, Cyberport, Hong Kong

• ‍BOOKING LINK Contact: Tracy Yuen - Sales Manager (Phone number:+852 2980 7806) 
• HK$1,670+13% with 1 buffet breakfast
• HK$1,820 +13% with 2 buffet breakfasts
• Rates are quoted in Hong Kong Dollars per room per night.
• Hotel is a 5 minute walk from the host school campus.

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🛬 Arrival: Participants should plan to arrive into Hong Kong by the evening of Thursday, 2 October 2025 

‍Recommended Airport: Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)

🛫 Departure: Participants should not plan to leave the venue before 2:15pm on Sunday, 5 October 2025

‍Please book travel accordingly leaving ample time to travel to/from the airport train station.

🚎 Local Transportation: Participants are responsible for arranging their own local transportation for this event.  Travel time between the airport and this host school is approximately one hour by taxi and one hour 30 by public transportation.  ‍The host will provide detailed public transportation routes for travel between the airport, hotel and school venue close before bookings closer to the event.  ‍In the event that the recommended hotel is not on an easy public transportation route, the host will arrange for daily transfers between the hotel and the school.  In this case, a daily transportation surcharge will be added to all bookings. 

‍🛂 Visa Requirements
‍It is the responsibility of participants/schools to ensure they have the necessary visas. If you require assistance or supporting documentation for your visa application, please contact your Event Manager well in advance.

📌 Visa applications can take time, so we strongly recommend starting the process as soon as possible.

‍📢 Important Communication Information
‍ISTA business days are Monday to Friday, and we aim to respond to all emails within three business days.

📌 ISTA staff do not monitor emails on weekends (Saturday & Sunday) or public holidays. If a staff member is working at an event, response times may be longer than usual.

ISTA TAPS events follow a two-step automated payment process:

‍1️⃣ Step 1: Deposit Payment at Booking

• Upon booking, you will be required to pay a 25% deposit immediately.
• This deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable and confirms your reservation.
• Bookings will only be secured once the deposit payment is successfully processed.

‍2️⃣ Step 2: Remaining Balance Upon Registration Closure

• Once registration closes, organisations will be automatically invoiced for the remaining 75% of registration fees, plus any applicable surcharges, based on the final number of students registered.

🔄 Changes in Student Numbers

• Fewer students than booked: Deposits for students who do not attend will be forfeited. (e.g. If you book 15 students but only 10 attend, the deposit for the 5 who do not attend will not be refunded.)‍
• Additional students: A 25% deposit per added student will be invoiced at the time of the increase.

TAPS Schedule:

• Start: 9:30 am Friday 3 October 2025
• End: 2:15 pm Sunday 5 October 2025

Participants are expected to attend all sessions of the event.

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🎭 Educator Workshops: 

All educator chaperones will take part in a specialist workshop focusing on a specific aspect of theatre. Specialist Workshop leader and session information for this TAPS Perspectives will be confirmed by May 2025

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🎟️ All participants will attend two professional theatre performances.

🎟️ Performance 1 – Tea House Theatre Experience
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Venue/Theatre: Xiqu Centre, West Kowloon Cultural District
Date and times: October 3, 2025 - 7:30 PM

By legendary Cantonese opera artist Law Ka-ying, the Tea House Theatre Experience is specially designed to introduce new audiences to Cantonese opera – the local form of Chinese opera or xiqu.The 90-minute showcase selection of songs, instrumental musical pieces and performance excerpts demonstrates a range of traditional styles through a varying programme of works exploring tales of romance, comedy, tragedy and martial arts. The experience also includes narration by an expert moderator offering insight into the history of the art form.

The upcoming season includes two popular excerpts by renowned librettist Tong Tik-sang – “Reunion at the Nunnery” from Princess Cheung Ping and “Reunion of Sword and Hairpin” from The Story of the Purple Hairpin – as well as the martial arts piece Fan Lihua Battles Wang Yinglong. To recreate the atmosphere of Hong Kong’s early 20th-century tea houses, audiences are served traditional tea and dim sum during the performance – a delicious way to learn about the heritage of Chinese traditional theatre. However much you know about Chinese opera, culture, history or literature, the Tea House Theatre Experience is a captivating treat for long-time fans and newcomers alike – join us and discover for yourself!

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🎟️ Performance 2 – Twisted Tales
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Venue/Theatre: The Independent Schools Foundation Academy
Date and times: October 4, 2025 - 6:30 PM

Experience the most unique form of theatre. SIX ACTORS... ONE PLATFORM.

A group of thespians stumble upon an ominous book filled with grisly and gory tales. Will the thespians be bound to act as the book's puppets? Destined for a life or performing, but never truly free...Twisted Tales is a five-star Platform Theatre piece which includes four anthology folk tales which all conclude with a twist.

📄 E-programmes containing detailed schedules, workshop information, artist bios and other event-specific information will be sent to participating organisations two weeks prior to the event. TAPS Journals will be distributed to learners at registration on Day 1 of the event. Learners should bring pens/pencils for note-taking and reflection activities.

🍏 Lunches and two evening meals are provided by the host for this event. Please note this does not include an evening meal the night before the event starts.

👕 Appropriate attire: 

• All participants must bring clothing that is suitable for physically active workshops during the day (athletic wear, PE kit, performance blacks, etc.) 
• Outfits suitable for attending theatre performances in the evening. 

Please note:

• Participants not dressed appropriately for physically active workshops may be asked to sit out.
• Participants may be asked to remove footwear, jewellery etc. for some workshops.
• Chewing gum is not permitted in any of the workshop spaces.

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✏️ Materials: 

• Any materials requested by the Workshop Leaders (printed text, notes on pre-reading/viewing activities etc.) details will be in the e-Programme
• Pens, pencils, highlighters etc. for notetaking in TAPS journals
• Refillable water bottle