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AandBC Theatre bring audience to the isle of Prospero of Shakespeare

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"The Tempest" is Shakespeare's masterpiece of transformation and forgiveness.

AandBC Theatre from the United Kingdom will create a total different mood for Shakespeare's "The Tempest" in the coming performance in Hong Kong. Under the glowing light of a glorious, large, portable moon, the audience gathers perched on cushioned oil drums. Gradually the actors emerge from the surroundings. The actors move among the drums and audience members, turning the theatre into the isle of Prospero. While the latter is immersed in a spectacular shower of language, movement and music.

Directed by Gregory Thompson, this innovative version of Shakespeare's "The Tempest" was first performed at Lincoln's Inn, London in 1999 and has since toured extensively in Central and Eastern Europe to great acclaim. The production also appeared at the 2001 Bath Shakespeare Festival as well as the 2000 and 2001 Edinburgh Fringe Festival with huge success.

"The Tempest" casts the King of Naples and his Court ashore a seemingly deserted island. Unknown to them, the island is home to Prospero, the deposed Duke of Milan and his daughter Miranda. Having spent twelve years on the island, Prospero has learned to conjure spirits and perform feats of magic that enable him to control the island and its inhabitants. Now Prospero strives to bring his enemies to account for their wrongdoing. At the moment when all are at his mercy, a choice arises for Prospero: to act in accordance with the past and be revenged or to give up what has been and move forward through renunciation to forgiveness.

Gregory Thompson was trained with the Sheffield Youth Theatre. He is the Artistic Director and founding member of AandBC. His AandBC theatre direction includes "Mahabharata", "The Rape of Lucrece", "As You Like It", "The Taming of the Shrew", "Much Ado About Nothing", "Measure for Measure", "Twelfth Night" and "Pericles". He has also worked on projects for the Young Vic and the Royal National Studio.

AandBC creates theatre to nourish and celebrate the human spirit with an aim to making profound texts accessible, vibrant and enriching for wide audiences. Above all, they seek to show that these texts are addressed to people living today. The texts come alive through physical dexterity, vivid imagery and original live music. The group is an ensemble with a warm and direct contact with the audience. Productions are fun, quick and lively. The staging is improvised and the actors are free to play the scene in response to all new circumstances.

Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Deaprtment, the performance will be staged from at 7.30 pm from November 27 (Wednesday) to December 1 (Sunday) at Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets priced at $280 are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price concessions will be granted to senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients (Discount tickets for students and CSSA recipients available on a first-come, first-served basis). Please check out programme leaflets for other discount schemes.

For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7323; for ticketing enquiries and reservation, please call 2734 9009; for credit card telephone booking, please call 2111 5999; for internet booking, please visit www.urbtix.gov.hk. To search more information on internet, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp

End/Tuesday, October 22, 2002

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