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Three women from two generations are trapped in an emotional cocoon after the only male in the family, a homosexual of the younger generation, dies of AIDS. In a patriarchal society, how can they cope with the "end" of the family line?
Tang Shu-wing Theatre Studio teams up with Drama Box of Singapore to present "The Next Generations", from November 19 to 21 at Hong Kong Cultural Centre Studio Theatre.
Directed by the late theatre pioneer Kuo Pao-kun in its 1993 premiere, "The Next Generations" went on to become a contemporary theatre classic in Singapore. Now, close to 20 years on, the play emerges with new resonance under the masterly direction of Hong Kong's Tang Shu-wing. Under Tang's sweeping vision, the dramatic gives way to the narrative as actors move between their roles and that of storyteller, while polished stagecraft freezes moments in time into beautiful post-modern tableaux. The Straits Times of Singapore commended the drama for "a faithful and yet powerful script revival... the play can still break your heart".
Based on the original script by Lim Soon-lan of Singapore, the new production is adapted and directed by Tang Shu-wing. The cast include Adelynn Tan and Jo Kwek of Singapore, and local actress Lai Yuk-ching, sharing with Hong Kong audiences this Singaporean classic with a new perspective. The drama also includes Frank Yeung as production director, Eddy Zee as producer, Nelson Samuel Hiu as live musician, Tsang Man-tung as set and costume designer and Yeung Tse-Yan as lighting designer.
Tang Shu-wing has been described by Parole Magazine as "one of the most talented theatre directors of Hong Kong". He was trained in acting at l'Ecole de la Belle de Mai and took theatre studies at the Universite de la Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris. He founded No Man's Land (renamed Tang Shu-wing Theatre Studio) in 1997 and has been the artistic director since then. In 2004, he joined the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and is currently the Dean of Drama. As a director, Tang has directed over 35 dance, opera and dramatic productions and won numerous awards in many arts festivals.
"The Next Generations", one of the programmes of the New Vision Arts Festival presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, will be staged on November 19 and 20 at 8pm, and on November 21 at 3pm at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Studio Theatre. The show will be conducted in Putonghua with Chinese and English surtitles. Tickets priced at $180, $120 are now available at URBTIX. A meet-the-artists session will also be held after the performance on November 19. Audiences are advised to arrive on time. Latecomers will not be seated.
Half-price tickets are available for full-time students, senior citizens aged 60 and above, people with disabilities and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. Group booking and package discounts of up to 20% are available.
Programme brochures of the New Vision Arts Festival are available at URBTIX outlets or at the website www.newvisionfestival.gov.hk . For programme enquiries, call 2370 1044. Credit card telephone bookings: 2111 5999. Internet bookings can be made at www.urbtix.hk .
Ends/Friday, October 29, 2010
Issued at HKT 18:30
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