Shakespeare in Our Time

The 1st Hong Kong International Shakespeare Festival (HKISF) originally scheduled for 2020 had to be postponed to 2022 due to pandemic. Thus, Tang Shu-wing Theatre Studio brings a special presentation to you all - Shakespeare in Our Time, as the prelude of HKISF. It consists of two brand new Shakespeare’s productions: “King Lear” directed by Tang Shu-wing, a nonverbal theatre of gesture with all female cast and Ng Wai-shek’s one-man show, “The Rape of Lucrece” (adapted for the stage based on the Bard’s poem).

Shakespeare in Our Time: “King Lear“

The old irritable King Lear wants to divide his kingdom among his three daughters but ends up banishing Cordelia, the youngest one, who really loves him. Unable to meet his commands, Lear’s two other daughters reject him at their homes, so Lear goes mad and wanders through a storm in a heath. Trying to rescue her father, Cordelia returns with an army, but they lose the battle, leading to the death of Lear and all his daughters.

A story starts on speech, inducing an exploration on theatrical arts. 

Director Tang Shu-wing accidentally reads Tolstoy’s article – “A Critical Essay on Shakespeare”, a severe criticism  on Shakespeare and “King Lear”. He feels excited  because he can think and feel from another angle, and he is convinced that  the greatest human pleasure is to keep learning under any circumstance. 

If everything can start afresh, would the world be different? Although Tang cannot predict that, he knows: directing Shakespeare’s plays is always an unknown journey.

One day, he saw an old woman ready to cross the road with two bright little girls. He decided to have a whole female cast and to translate this play into a non-verbal theatre of gesture. 

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Adaptation/Director: Tang Shu-wing

Assistant Director: Rocky Wong

Cast: Cecilia Yip, Lindzay Chan, Lai Yuk-ching, Ivy Pang, Ng Fung-ming, Amanada Leung, Gigi Yang, Amy Cheung, Cassandra Tang

Set Design: Yuen Hon-wai

Lighting Design: Yeung Tsz-yan 

Costume Design: Yuen Hon-wai, Jade Leung

Music Composer: Dickson Dee 

Sound Design: Anthony Yeung 

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Shouson Theatre, Hong Kong Arts Centre

2021.10.28-30 8PM

2021.10.30-31 3PM

$450, $380, $320

Book NOW: www.urbtix.hk

Package:

Each purchase of 4-5 standard tickets (10% off)

Each purchase of 6 or more standard tickets (20% off)

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The presenter reserves the right to change the programme and substitute artists should unavoidable circumstances make it necessary

Hong Kong Arts Development Council supports freedom of artistic expression. The views and opinions expressed in this project do not represent the stand of the Council.

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Enquiry: 2144 5335 / info@tswtheatre.com

Presented by Tang Shu-wing Theatre Studio, Theatre in-residence of the Hong Kong Arts Centre.

 Shakespeare in Our Time: “The Rape of Lucrece”

One-man show performed by actor Ng Wai Shek, turning The Bard’s narrative poem into a highly concise performance!

Collatine, a Roman General, describes his wife, Lucrece, in glowing terms—she is beautiful and chaste, that Prince Tarquin's passions were aroused. Tarquin goes to Lucrece's chamber at night; rapes her and sneaks away. Lucrece named her rapist in front of her husband and father then immediately drew a knife from her bosom and stabbed herself.

The poem is not telling a story but the language of the rapist as well as the feeling of the victim. In collaboration with young musician, lighting and sound designers, Ng adapted the text into a one-man show, exploring what desire and reason is with the audience.

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Adapted for the stage by: Ng Wai Shek

Performer: Ng Wai Shek

Stage Manager: Chan Lok Sze

Lighting Design: Wong Ka Ki

Sound Design: Michael Chan

Music Composer: Tim Chan

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McAulay Studio, Hong Kong Arts Centre

2021.10.28-30 8:30PM

2021-10-31 3:30PM

HKD 280

Book NOW: www.urbtix.hk

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The performance is conducted in Cantonese with English Surtitles

The presenter reserves the right to change the programme and substitute artists should unavoidable circumstances make it necessary

Hong Kong Arts Development Council supports freedom of artistic expression. The views and opinions expressed in this project do not represent the stand of the Council.

The content of this programme does not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

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Enquiry: 2144 5335 / info@tswtheatre.com

Presented by Tang Shu-wing Theatre Studio, Theatre in-residence of the Hong Kong Arts Centre.

Tang Shu-wing Theatre Studio is financially supported by the Art Development Matching Grants Scheme of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region