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Pants Theatre Production, which specialises in exploring social issues, will present the documentary theatre "Once Upon a Time in Choi Yuen Chuen" in March.
The play centres on the Choi Yuen Chuen anti-development rally, which continues to have considerable local and social importance in Hong Kong. The Pants Theatre Production team interviewed Choi Yuen Chuen residents and people involved. The troupe then rearranged the oral material and performed it as the documentary theatre, "Redevelopment", which received acclaim last year.
Based on the previous archive, the team conducted more interviews and explored further aspects, resulting in a new version of the documentary theatre titled "Once Upon a Time in Choi Yuen Chuen".
Documentary theatre is often based on social issues and focuses on noteworthy local incidents or phenomenon. The production team studies the issues, gathers oral and written materials and brings them together. With artistic imagination, the team is thus able to create a play which reflects social aspects while offering a sense of drama.
"Once Upon a Time in Choi Yuen Chuen" is written by James Mandu, winner of the Hong Kong Theatre Libre for Best Screenplay and directed by the Pants Theatre Production Artistic Director Wu Hoi-fai. It is produced by Gladys Wong and performed by various actors including Annie Cheung, Kiki Ng, Wan Yuk-yu, Lai Ho-yin, Matchy Choi and Char Kwok-lam. Together, they will encourage the audience to review and rethink an important event in recent local history.
Commenting on last year's production, drama Critic Ho Chun-fai wrote: "Redevelopment" is not only a drama about environmental protection and politics with tears and laughter, but also a philosophical look at how people face difficulties and overcome crises in interpersonal relationships. In the play, there is still a lot of life wisdom to be discovered and considered by the audience.กจ
Details of the performances are as follows:
March 7 and 8 (Friday and Saturday) 8pm
March 9 (Sunday) 3pm
Venue: Cultural Activities Hall, Sha Tin Town Hall
Ticket price: $160
March 15 (Saturday) 8pm
March 16 (Sunday) 3pm
Venue: Cultural Activities Hall, Tuen Mun Town Hall
Ticket price: $140
"Once Upon a Time in Choi Yuen Chuen" (conducted in Cantonese) is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD). Tickets are now available at all URBTIX outlets, on the Internet and by telephone credit card 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 available on a first-come, first-served basis).
For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7325 (LCSD) or 2419 9789 (Pants Theatre Production), or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/theatre/program_463.html (LCSD) or www.pants.org.hk (Pants Theatre Production). For ticketing enquiries, please call 2734 9009. For credit card telephone booking, please call 2111 5999, and for Internet bookings, please visit www.urbtix.hk.
Ends/Friday, January 24, 2014
Issued at HKT 16:05
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