Elderly participants to stage oral history theatre performance "The 4 Generations of Sha Tin" in April (with photos)
******************************************************************************************
Sha Tin was once named "Gik Yuen", in reference to its uncultivated fields overgrown with thistles and thorns in the past. It then developed into a place for countryside tours during the holidays. To the east of the railroad was the coastline and Yuen Chau Kok was an islet in the middle of Tide Cove (Sha Tin Hoi). Many years later, Sha Tin has developed into a satellite city which is now home for approximately 630 000 inhabitants. The former Tide Cove was drained and straightened to become the present Shing Mun River, which extends to Ma On Shan.
The "Community Oral History Theatre Project - Sha Tin District" was launched in 2015 and is co-organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), Chung Ying Theatre Company, the Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council and the Hong Kong Society for the Aged. Through organising a series of workshops, the project has gathered personal experiences and valuable recollections of the elderly from Sha Tin District to come up with a drama script, providing an opportunity for the elderly to tell their stories onstage.
An outreach performance featuring excerpts of "The 4 Generations of Sha Tin" held recently at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum was well received by the audience. The upcoming full-length finale, being produced with more intensive rehearsals and enriched programme contents, will present more delightful and enjoyable performances to the audience.
Since its launch in 2009, the Community Oral History Theatre Project has been implemented and well received by elderly participants and audiences in several districts, namely Sham Shui Po, Kwun Tong, Islands (Tai O) and Eastern Districts. The Project encourages the elderly to participate in arts and cultural activities, and provides them with an opportunity to recount and act in their stories onstage. In addition, it allows the younger generation to understand the previous generations through the performances and encourages them to reflect on their own lives.
"The 4 Generations of Sha Tin" (in Cantonese) will be staged at the Cultural Activities Hall of Sha Tin Town Hall on April 29 (Saturday) at 7.30pm and on April 30 (Sunday) at 3pm. Tickets priced at $60 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For credit card telephone bookings, please call 2111 5999.
For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2591 1300 (LCSD) or 8106 8336 (Chung Ying Theatre Company), or visit
www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/ab/en/OH_shatin_finale.php.
Ends/Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Issued at HKT 15:25
Issued at HKT 15:25
NNNN