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The following is issued on behalf of the Provisional Regional Council:
The Kwai Tsing Theatre, scheduled to be opened in mid-November, is expected to cope with the demand for medium-scale cultural and arts presentation venues marking a milestone on the Provisional Regional Council's (Pro RC) commitment in supporting and promoting the development of local arts.
This was said by the Chairperson of the Pro RC's Cultural and Arts Select Committee, Ms Cheung Yuet-lan, at a press conference at the Kwai Tsing Theatre to announce details of an arts festival entitled "Literature in Theatre - A Celebration of the Arts".
The $468 million theatre, under construction since 1994 and completed last month, is scheduled for opening on November 18 with a four-and-a-half-month-long opening arts festival.
The festivity shall introduce the theatre's facilities to the public and the arts community, so that everyone can partake in the wealth of pleasures that theatrical arts and creative activities can provide.
Ms Cheung said: "We look forward to the Kwai Tsing Theatre's becoming a new focal point for local and international artists, contribute to the development of the arts and open new horizons for Hong Kong at the approach of the millennium."
The 900-seat auditorium of the theatre, is specially catered to meet the needs of the arts community for staging drama, dance and operas. It can also be modified for concerts, film shows and other events. The theatre also houses exhibition areas, rehearsal and lecture rooms.
The festival, to be held between November 18 and April 1 next year, will cover the mainstream drama, modern drama, experimental performances, traditional Chinese operas and new western operas to be presented by prominent performing troupes from Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. A total of 31 performances will be staged.
Participants of the arts festival include the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company (UK) with a very contemporary comedy "The Taming of the Shrew"; the renowned Shanghai Kunju Opera Troupe with famous actors including Cai Zhengren, Zhang Jingxia, Yu Meiti and Ji Zhenhua will give its Hong Kong premiere the complete version of "Peony Pavilion"; Taiwan's Fu Hsing Chinese Opera Troupe and well-known actor Wu Hsingkuo will bring in "Rashomon", a new and entirely modern interpretation of the Japanese novel "In the Grove".
Ms Cheung said: "The Council has always made special efforts in encouraging creativity. For this opening festival, works by local artists are nearly all newly commissioned and produced original works."
Turning to the Cantonese opera programmes, some of Hong Kong's most established Cantonese opera stars will join hands to stage a "Literary Cantonese Opera - An All-star Night" with a programme of traditional repertoire adapted from literary classics.
Veteran opera producer Lo King-man, in collaboration with two young composers, namely, Lo Hau-man and Lam Shun, will give a premiere opera derived from Lu Xun's short stories "The Lamp of Everlasting Light" and "The Divorce". The production promises a new experience for the eyes and ears, and brings the spirit of the literacy works to live on stage.
Artistic Director Ko Tin-lung of the Chung Ying Theatre and renowned playwright Raymond To will present "A Tale of an Evanescent Mortal", a drama on the life of an extremely colourful personality in modern Chinese literature and history -- Su Manshu.
Director Hoyingfung of Theatre Fanatico will bring to the festival a bold and cross-cultural attempt that takes off from General Yue Fei of Song Dynasty and Shakespeare's Coriolanus, to explore the possibility of fusion between traditional Chinese opera and modern theatre.
Zuni Icosahedron will present four contemporary versions of the Bard's "King Lear", with Hong Kong's Danny Yung, Beijing's Meng Jinghui, and Taipei's Edward Yang and Stan Lai participating in experiment.
The Theatre Ensemble will adapt George Orwell's "Animal Farm" to the contemporary office to create a satire on the staying power of politics.
The story-telling series is another outstanding feature in this festival, showcasing traditional Cantonese story-singing, contemporary poetry reading and story-telling for the youths.
Ms Cheung pointed out : "Apart from actively providing performance venues of good quality, the Pro RC is also keen on building an audience for the arts.
"We are organising an Open Day on December 26 for the community. Free programmes shall be arranged to enable visitors to experience the facilities of the theatre in first hand."
End/Thursday, October 14, 1999
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