The
Latest Drama from Hong Kong Sweeps Asia
Hong Kong is a city with an atmosphere of excitement,
exemplified by its business activities and film industry. Theatrical circles
in the city have been greatly influenced by traditional Chinese drama
as well as Western drama, which was introduced when the island came under
British control. In recent years, however, there have been aggressive
moves, mainly among the younger generation, to go beyond such frameworks
and escape the bounds of tradition, and today over 150 theatre companies
are in operation. These companies have developed diverse contemporary
theatrical styles by performing their original plays on the stage. The
Theatre Ensemble, which will soon appear at The Pit to perform the third
in a series of overseas works, is a theatre company representative of
the first generation of this movement that began to attract attention
in the early 1990s.
Established in Hong Kong in 1993 by the actor Jim Chim and the actress
Olivia Yan, who both had pursued studies in traditional Chinese drama
and European theatrical methods, the Theatre Ensemble is known for its
unique style of bodily expressions and visual images, and has been the
most active theatre company in the city. The company, with its strikingly
innovative and pioneering activities and impeccable visual sensibilities
in terms of stage sets, lighting, and imagery, has attracted the participation
of young artists throughout Hong Kong. The Theatre Ensemble conveys a
sense of the possibilities of the artistic scene in Hong Kong and for
this reason simply can’t be missed. Not only has the Theatre Ensemble
remained at the forefront of Hong Kong’s theatrical world even after
the island was returned to China, but its activities now cover Asia as
a whole, heralding the arrival of a new Asian theatrical movement.
The Game is an adaptation of Eugène Ionesco’s absurdist play
Les Chaises (The Chairs), and is characterized by stage direction that
appeals to visual sensibilities, charming expressive techniques, and,
above all, a theatrical quality that audiences find entertaining. When
the play was first performed, it garnered nominations in seven categories
from Hong Kong’s most prestigious theatrical awards and was the
winner in four categories, including the prize for best actor/actress.
The performance of The Game, full of a sense of humor mixed with bitter
cynicism, represents the finest sort of entertainment that only the Theatre
Ensemble can provide. The play, which depicts absurd yet humorous conversations
and a strange game of personal interaction, kicks off a series entitled
“Scenes of Men and Women” that centers on the keyword of “dialogue.”
Don’t miss out on this new encounter with Asian theatre.
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