Download 17 November 2014 (Monday) Press Release (3 pages) A poignant

17 November 2014 (Monday)
Press Release (3 pages)
A poignant encounter between Cantonese opera and spoken drama
Footprints in the Snow
The legacy of a playscript resolves the misunderstandings
between two generations
【Hong Kong Repertory Theatre】“Life takes us to all kinds of places, like a giant goose that leaves its
footprints in the snow; though they are left by chance, when the goose flies away, it does not matter
where they are any longer.” Life’s transience, as captured in Su Shi’s poem, is like the goose’s footprints.
Who would care about these footprints? A script that remains after the death of a legendary Cantonese
opera playwright becomes the prize that everyone is fighting for. However, after the disputes are settled,
what remains? By integrating the essence of spoken drama and Cantonese opera, HKRep Artistic
Director Anthony Chan has created a brand new crossover play, Footprints in the Snow, which will
inaugurate the New Wing of Ko Shan Theatre. Written by Anthony Chan and directed by Tang
Wai-kit*, with Cantonese opera music by Tsang Kin Man, the cast includes Liu Kai Chi, Wong
Wan Choi, Au Yeung Chun, Luvin Ho, Chan Kiu, Chung Yat Ming, Chan Kam Sing and Frances
Wong. The production runs from 18th to 21st December in the Auditorium, Ko Shan Theatre New
Wing. Tickets are currently on sale at URBTIX.
Footprints in the Snow centres on the legendary Cantonese opera playwright Yip Fei Hung (played by
Liu Kai Chi). In his last letter to his son Eric (played by Au Yeung Chun), already living in America,
father confided in son that an unproduced script is under lock and key in a “Ying Seung” (“congealed
box”). Arriving in Hong Kong to attend his father’s funeral, Eric hears that a new Cantonese opera
troupe plans to stage this work. While searching for the script, Eric discovers more about his father’s life
and love, including an unusual relationship with a retired actor who specialized in cross-dressing roles.
The playwright’s hidden sensibilities and unique artistic vision are revealed in these footprints.
Playwright Anthony Chan, in addition of being a veteran theatre artist, is also an aficionado of
Cantonese opera. In celebrating the opening of the Ko Shan Theatre New Wing, he penned Footprints in
the Snow fusing the art form of spoken drama and Cantonese opera to highlight the venue’s unique
theatrical setting. Through a Cantonese opera playwright’s obsession with, love of and perseverance in
the Cantonese operatic art, Footprints in the Snow portrays the trials and tribulations of a Cantonese
opera artist, skilfully chronicling lives reflected through the prism of the stage as well as
misunderstandings of father and son. The line “a song expresses my sentiments” strikes at our heart!
HKRep’s celebrated production The Mad Phoenix, also integrating elements of Cantonese opera into
spoken drama, has been an acclaimed repertory piece for decades. This production of Footprints in the
Snow features Liu Kai Chi as Cantonese opera playwright Yip Fei Hung. Together with veteran
Cantonese opera actors Wong Wan Choi, Luvin Ho, Chan Kam Sing and Frances Wong as well as
HKRep company members Au Yeung Chun and Chan Kiu, this play will offer audiences a fresh, new
take on both art forms.
香港話劇團 HONG KONG REPERTORY THEATRE
香港皇后大道中 345 號上環市政大廈 4 樓
4/F Sheung Wan Municipal Services Building, 345 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan, H.K.
電話 Tel No. : 3103 5900 傳真 Fax No.: 2541 8473
1
About Anthony Chan (Playwright)
Anthony Chan is among the few distinguished theatre professionals with expertise in not only playwriting and
directing but also set design, theatre education and stage management. His scripts (including translations and
adaptations) number more than 90; he has directed 65 productions and designed sets for 13 shows. A former Head
of Directing and Playwriting at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts who served for 19 years at the
institution, he has dedicated himself to nurturing a new generation of playwrights and directors. He also devised
the curriculum for the M.F.A. degree in Drama (Directing) before his departure from the HKAPA.
A frequent award-winner, Chan was the 1991 Artists of the Year from the Hong Kong Artists’ Guild. Other
accolades include “Outstanding Achievements of the Decade” in 1994 and “Outstanding Translator—Silver
Jubilee Commemorative Award” in 2009 from the Hong Kong Federation of Drama Societies.
His scripts cover a wide range of topics, each a microcosm of dramatic mastery. Metamorphosis under the
Stars has been frequently revived in the past two decades; Formula of the Thunderstorm won Best Performance at
the 2000 Hong Kong Drama Awards. Most recently, he adapted Christopher Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus and
created Reverie on an Empire, highlighting an often-overlooked event in modern Chinese history. All of these
works reveal Chan’s unique perspective and his ability to shape words for the stage, and his enthusiasm and talent
in the dramatic arts.
His works have been performed frequently overseas, in cities such as Edinburgh, London, France, Tarascon,
Bordeaux, Toronto, Melbourne, Beijing and Shanghai.
Since assuming the position of Artistic Director at the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, Anthony has led the
following productions: Field of Dreams (playwright, director), Caligula (translator, director), A Flea in Her
Ear (adaptation, director), Boundless Movement (director), Cao Yu’s Last Soliloquy (playwright), Dr.
Faustus (adaptation, director), Reverie of an Empire (playwright), A Bowlful of Kindness (playwright, director)
and 18/F Flat C (director). He is dedicated to the artistic mission of the HKREP. Apart from contributing his
talents in playwriting, directing and management, he has been an avid supporter of the development of local
original dramas, theatre education and international exchange. Always keen to discover a new generation of
theatre artists, he brings the HKREP onto new milestones.
Anthony obtained his M.A. from the University of Colorado at Denver, having received prior training in theatre,
art and design. He was made Honorary Fellowship of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in June 2013.
He is currently a member of the China Theatre Association, a juror of the Hong Kong Federation of Drama
Societies and an assessor of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council.
About Tang Wai Kit* (Director)
Tang Wai Kit is a graduate of the School of Drama, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), having
earned an Advanced Diploma, Professional Diploma and Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) Degree. He continued
his studies at the International School of Mimodrame of Paris, Marcel Marceau and received a Master of Arts
degree from Middlesex University, United Kingdom. Since 1992, Tang has been a faculty member of the School
of Drama, HKAPA. In 1998, he went to London to further his education and career, where he collaborated with
Perpetual Motion Theatre Company and GinaTheatre, and performed in the Edinburgh Drama Festival, Cairo
International Experimental Theatre Festival, also appearing in Ukraine, Moldova and South Korea. In 2006, he
went to Seoul to further hone his craft before returning to Hong Kong. He is now artistic director of the We
Draman Group.
*With kind permission of the We Draman Group
Footprints in the Snow
8:00pm
18-21/12/2014
3:00pm
20-21/12/2014
Auditorium, Ko Shan Theatre New Wing
Tickets: $360, $250, $160
Tickets now available at URBTIX
香港話劇團 HONG KONG REPERTORY THEATRE
香港皇后大道中 345 號上環市政大廈 4 樓
4/F Sheung Wan Municipal Services Building, 345 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan, H.K.
電話 Tel No. : 3103 5900 傳真 Fax No.: 2541 8473
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Sponsor: Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Production Sponsor: 3 Wells Watch Industries Ltd.
Discount Offers
15% discount off full price tickets for HKRep Pals
50% discount for senior citizens aged 60 or above, full-time students (limited offer), Comprehensive Social
Security Assistance Recipients (limited offer), people with disabilities and the minder
Please refer to HKRep’s website for details
Ticketing 2111 5999 / www.urbtix.hk
Programme enquiries 3103 5900 / www.hkrep.com
- ENDS Media Enquiries：
Anita Wong
Head of Marketing and Development
Karen Chan
Assistant Manager (Corporate Communication)
Tel：852-3103 5933 / 852- 9880 8615
Tel：852-3103 5977 / 852-9704 8562
Email：[email protected]
Email：[email protected]
Promotional photos of Footprints in the Snow may be downloaded via ftp, with details below:
ftp://www.hkrep.com
login: hkrepmedia
pw: media4hkrep
folder name: Footprints
Photos captions (photos: Pow@Blur Photo)
1-2) After their last collaboration in 2011 for Boundless Movement, Liu Kai Chi joins the HKRep in Footprints in
the Snow, portraying Cantonese opera playwright Yip Fei Hung.
http://www.hkrep.com/files/media/Footprints/Photo1.jpg
http://www.hkrep.com/files/media/Footprints/Photo2.jpg
3-4) Yip Fei Hung immerses himself in Cantonese opera, neglecting his own son Eric (played by Au Yeung
Chun).
http://www.hkrep.com/files/media/Footprints/Photo3.jpg
http://www.hkrep.com/files/media/Footprints/Photo4.jpg
5) After receiving his father’s letter, Eric searches for a script that has long been hidden.
http://www.hkrep.com/files/media/Footprints/Photo5.jpg
6) Retired actor Chang Ying Fei (played by Wong Wan Choi), who specialized in cross-dressing roles, has
followed Yip Fei Hung for many years. Their relationship raises many questions.
http://www.hkrep.com/files/media/Footprints/Photo6.jpg
7) Chang Ying Fei’s disciple Song Ngan Ling (played by Luvin Ho) safeguards the secret about the script for her
teacher.
http://www.hkrep.com/files/media/Footprints/Photo7.jpg
8-9) Wong Wan Choi and Luvin Ho in Footprints in the Snow epitomize the lives of Cantonese opera stars.
http://www.hkrep.com/files/media/Footprints/Photo8.jpg
http://www.hkrep.com/files/media/Footprints/Photo9.jpg
香港話劇團 HONG KONG REPERTORY THEATRE
香港皇后大道中 345 號上環市政大廈 4 樓
4/F Sheung Wan Municipal Services Building, 345 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan, H.K.
電話 Tel No. : 3103 5900 傳真 Fax No.: 2541 8473
3