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Taiwan theatre group to perform mystery and suspense drama on double-sided stage
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     Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), Shakespeare's Wild Sisters Group from Taiwan will stage its latest drama production, "Once, upon hearing the skin tone", in January next year. The group's first performance in Taiwan in 2009 made waves in the drama community because of its original double-sided stage design, where the audience is effectively divided into two groups, each having a different view - an innovation that the group has maintained. Another highlight of the show is the musical score by popular Taiwan singer Cheer Chen. Director Wang Chia-ming uses Chen's music to embark on a cold and sinister yet somehow luxurious adventure.

     "Once, upon hearing the skin tone" begins as music-video theatre, and evolves around a mystery that slowly unfolds where one sees love - and murder. The play opens with the victim's recollections. From the first encounter between a man and a woman, the play traces back through a string of weird happenings that took place previously - a secret the female protagonist must not know, the disappearance of a good friend, the ecstatic feeling of being in love, a friend's betrayal, and a murder with no prior warning. In the end, a story that appears logical is actually constructed upon the crossing over between the narrator's imagination, reality and fiction.

     This drama is concerned with the brutalities, ordeals, destruction and rebirth of love, false and equivocal testimony and forlorn and despondent waiting. Audiences will find some answers in Cheer Chen's music, including when she says, "I'm going to tell you a story about my murder".

     A strong creative team includes playwright and director Wang Chia-ming, music director Chen Chien-chi, set designer Huang Yi-ju, costume designer Lai Xuan-wu and lighting designer Wang Tien-hung. Performers include Vickie Wang, Wang Hung-yuan, Daniel Wang, Tom Chou, Kao Joshan, Winnie Chang, Chang Nien-tzu, Mo Tzu-yi, Yeh Wen-hao, Kuan Ching, Andy Tsai and Betsy Lan.
 
     Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and produced by Shakespeare's Wild Sisters Group, the production will be staged at 7.30pm from January 25 to 27 (Friday to Sunday) and at 2.30pm on January 26 and 27 (Saturday and Sunday) at the Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. All performances will be performed in Putonghua with Chinese and English surtitles. Tickets priced at $320, $220 and $120 are now available at URBTIX outlets, on the Internet and by credit card telephone booking. Half-price tickets are available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and their minders, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients. (Limited tickets for full-time students and CSSA recipients are available on a first-come, first-served basis.) The production contains adult content and violent scenes.

     For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7325, or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/theatre/program_116.html. For ticketing enquiries, please call 2734 9009. For credit card telephone bookings, please call 2111 5999. For Internet bookings, please visit www.urbtix.hk.

Ends/Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Issued at HKT 10:30

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