The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will present "A Retrospective Look at Yau Sing-po's Career in Cantonese Opera" programme in March. Virtuoso Law Ka-ying will perform "King Li Guang", a signature play of the late veteran Cantonese opera artist Yau Sing-po, together with a group of Cantonese opera stars to pay tribute to Yau.

     "King Li Guang", written by Law, is inspired by Shakespeare's "King Lear". Since its premiere in 2002, Yau had played the role of King Li Guang, bringing this tragic character that has gone through struggles for power and killings to life. The play has returned to the stage several times and received critical acclaim. Law, being the artistic director and lead actor of this year's performance, will also give two talks to share the stories of co-operation with Yau and his superb artistry, as well as the ideas of conceiving the play.

     The story of "King Li Guang" is set against the Spring and Autumn Period. The aging King Li Guang passes on his throne to his eldest son, Boqi. His third son, Jizhong, remonstrates to no avail and is sent into exile. Boqi's wife persuades her husband to go against his father's wishes and collude with the King's second son, Zhonghuai, to usurp the throne. One day, a fire breaks out in the palace chamber, and Zhonghuai kills Boqi secretly in the chaos. Jizhong comes to rescue his father, and meets Zhonghuai in battle. Witnessing the death of his three sons, and the demise of his kingdom owing to his obstinacy, the King dies in devastation and regret.

     The main cast of this performance includes Law Ka-ying, Li Qiuyuan, Wong Chiu-kwan, Wang Zhiliang, Lau Yu-feng, King Fa-lui, Ng Kwok-wa and Kim Lun.

     "A Retrospective Look at Yau Sing-po's Career in Cantonese Opera - King Li Guang" will be held at 2pm on March 4 (Saturday) and at 7.30pm on March 5 (Sunday) at the Auditorium of Kwai Tsing Theatre. Each performance will run about three hours and 30 minutes, including an intermission of 15 minutes. Tickets priced at $140, $220, $300 and $380 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7325 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/chinese_opera/programs_1471.html.

     A pre-performance talk and a post-performance talk in Cantonese will be held at AC2, 4/F, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The speaker will be Law Ka-ying. The pre-performance talk will be held at 7.30pm on February 27 (Monday). The post-performance talk will be held at 7.30pm on March 12 (Sunday). Admission is free with limited seats available on a first-come, first-served basis. Details can be found on the above website.

     To safeguard public health, all persons entering indoor venues under the management of the LCSD must wear their own masks.

Ends/Friday, February 3, 2023
Issued at HKT 11:00

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