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The Yat Po Singers are tuning up for their first performance on the Mainland, which also happens to be the first performing arts event staged by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) for Expo 2010 Shanghai China (Shanghai Expo).
Director and designer Yuri Ng said the Yat Po Singers were looking forward to their premier performance - "Rock Hard" - on the Mainland.
"It is a great opportunity for us to be able to showcase Hong Kong talent during this mega event in Shanghai," said Yuri, as he led the group through rehearsals ahead of their debut on May 8 at the Drama Theatre of the Shanghai Grand Theatre.
This is the first time that the Yat Po Singers will be performing in front of a Mainland audience. The script is based on local Hong Kong stories which will be printed on the programme booklet. Although the Mainland audience may not fully understand its meaning, they can still enjoy the performance. "Using men's voices as an instrument, even with no rhythm, no melody, no language, no translation, we can still bring the story of Hong Kong to outsiders", composer Ng Cheuk-yin said.
"Rock Hard" is an edgy musical production featuring a group of young a capella singers and a female dancer. It looks at the history of Hong Kong from a new perspective, and turns the city's folklore on its head.
The music theatre production is an allegory that shuttles between the urban and rural areas - a sentimental journey that views Hong Kong with nostalgia and hope.
"Rock Hard" premiered in 2008 at the Hong Kong New Vision Arts Festival and won the 2009 Golden Sail Music Award for Best Serious Music.
In all, the HKSAR will stage 26 programmes with over 70 performances, as well as four visual art exhibitions, in Shanghai during the six-month Expo period.
The groups will perform at major Shanghai venues including the Shanghai Grand Theatre, Shanghai Oriental Art Centre, Shanghai Theatre Academy and Shanghai Concert Hall.
Genres to be covered include Cantonese opera, Chinese and Western music, dance, drama, opera, music theatre and multi-media performances.
Information on ticketing as well as other performances and exhibitions is available on Hong Kong's Expo website, www.hkexpo2010.gov.hk .
"Rock Hard"
Date: May 8
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: Drama Theatre, Shanghai Grand Theatre
Length: Approx 70 mins
Booking hotline: (+86 21) 6286 2836
Online bookings: www.shgtheatre.com , www.ticket2010.com
Programme enquires (HK): (+852) 9761 9991
Ends/Monday, April 26, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:45
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