Latest news with #CantoneseOpera
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong repositions venues in a bid to boost development of performing arts
Sha Tin Town Hall will be reserved for Cantonese Opera while the Hong Kong Coliseum will be positioned as a concert venue, the government said on Thursday. The reform of the hiring policy of the city's performance venues is part of a wider effort to promote the mega-event development of the performing arts in Hong Kong, following the official opening of Kai Tak Stadium in March. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department said the latest move could provide more performance slots for use by different art groups and establish clearer venue identities. Under the reform, the 1,372-seat auditorium in Sha Tin Town Hall will be reserved for Cantonese opera, the first world-class intangible cultural heritage in Hong Kong. Professional troupes fulfilling certain criteria could make special bookings throughout the year for Cantonese opera or opera-excerpt performances to promote high-quality productions and the inheritance of the cultural heritage, the department added. The Hong Kong Coliseum in Hung Hom will prioritise concerts in an attempt to develop a live music economy. Photo: Edmond So '[The new policy] could ensure reasonable opportunities for proficient troupes to hire performance venues while supporting the professional and industry development of Cantonese opera.'
South China Morning Post
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Intangible cultural heritage and Hong Kong examples as city celebrates inaugural ICH month
If you live in or are visiting Hong Kong, you may have watched the Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade from the fishing village's stilt houses last week, or mastered the art of making cha kwo (steamed sticky rice dumpling). You may be heading to Sha Tin later this month to learn a paper-crafting technique, or make temple offerings at the Che Kung Festival. A plethora of such cultural experiences is being widely showcased at the moment – more than usual – because June is the inaugural Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Month. In addition to tours in six characteristic districts – Yau Tsim Mong, Tsuen Wan, Tai Po, Sha Tin, Eastern, and the Islands – there are carnivals, exhibitions, seminars and workshops being held across the city. Appreciating a culture's heritage through its historic sites and monuments, buildings, and material artefacts – such as clothing, jewellery, weapons, art and sculpture – is a familiar practice. Such tangible heritage has long been presented in museums, recognised, shared and even returned to its rightful communities. Cantonese opera is listed on the Representative List of the ICH of Hong Kong under performing arts. Photo: AFP Intangible cultural heritage (ICH), on the other hand, comprises non-physical intellectual wealth, such as folklore, customs, beliefs, traditions, knowledge and language. ICH received less recognition until recent decades, despite its crucial role as a mainspring of cultural diversity, and a guarantor of sustainable development.
RNZ News
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Trump-inspired Cantonese opera in Hong Kong aims to bring love and peace
By Joyce Zhou and Jessie Pang , Reuters US President Donald Trump speaks to the press in the Oval Office at the White House. Photo: Getty Images/CNN Newsource In a Cantonese opera inspired by US President Donald Trump, a Chinese actor donning a blond wig spars on a Hong Kong stage with a man playing a double of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky - ridiculing his outfit and firing a water gun at him. The sold-out show, Trump, The Twins President , was performed in the territory's Xiqu Theatre as Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a one-hour-long call on Thursday . Written by Edward Li, a Feng Shui master-turned-Cantonese opera playwright, the comedy made its Hong Kong debut in 2019. The three-and-a-half hour show has been through several iterations since with the latest version featuring Trump's attempted assassination and his quarrel with Zelensky in the White House. Cantonese opera is a centuries-old Chinese art form blending singing, acting, martial arts, and elaborate costumes, and is traditionally performed during special occasions. Li's latest production begins with a dream by Trump's daughter, Ivanka, where her father has a twin brother named Chuan Pu, living in China. When Trump is kidnapped by aliens from Mars, Ivanka asks Chuan to pretend to be Trump for a day. In another act, Trump has a dramatic fight with Zelensky's presidential double over his clothing in the White House, and shoots him with a water gun from Chinese online shopping site Taobao while Zelensky pretends to have been shot. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Photo: SERGEI CHUZAVKOV / AFP The actors perform against a backdrop of photos from the actual events. Li said he chose Trump as the main character because his tariffs and policies had affected everyone's daily life. "I think this opera is quite a special medicine for the whole world," Li said. "If people see this opera they will feel very happy because they think of love and peace." Cantonese opera actor Lung Koon-tin, who portrayed Trump, said the US president was unique. "He increased tariffs and made the whole world speak out." Lung said China and the US should be good friends. "We are Chinese and he is American, but friendship always lives long. That's why we talk about Sino-US friendship in the play." The audience erupted in laughter throughout the performance, breaking into enthusiastic applause at the end. Many of them were younger people, including 28-year-old Thomas Lo. He said that modern youth often felt disconnected from traditional Cantonese opera but the Trump-themed show, infused with contemporary events, offered a refreshing twist. "It's fun and really something special," Lo said. - Reuters
Japan Times
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Trump-inspired Cantonese opera in Hong Kong aims to bring love and peace
In a Cantonese opera inspired by U.S. President Donald Trump, a Chinese actor donning a blond wig spars on a Hong Kong stage with a man playing a double of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — ridiculing his outfit and firing a water gun at him. The sold-out show, "Trump, The Twins President," was performed in the territory's Xiqu Theatre as Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held an hour-long call on Thursday. Written by Edward Li, a Feng Shui master-turned-Cantonese opera playwright, the comedy made its Hong Kong debut in 2019. The 3½-hour show has been through several iterations since, with the latest version featuring Trump's attempted assassination and his quarrel with Zelenskyy in the White House.
Malay Mail
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
In Hong Kong, Trump and Zelenskiy clash on Cantonese opera stage — water guns included
HONG KONG, June 6 — In a Cantonese opera inspired by US President Donald Trump, a Chinese actor donning a blond wig spars on a Hong Kong stage with a man playing a double of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy — ridiculing his outfit and firing a water gun at him. The sold-out show, Trump, The Twins President, was performed in the territory's Xiqu Theatre as Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a one-hour-long call yesterday. Written by Edward Li, a Feng Shui master-turned-Cantonese opera playwright, the comedy made its Hong Kong debut in 2019. The three-and-a-half hour show has been through several iterations since with the latest version featuring Trump's attempted assassination and his quarrel with Zelenskiy in the White House. Cantonese opera is a centuries-old Chinese art form blending singing, acting, martial arts, and elaborate costumes, and is traditionally performed during special occasions. Li's latest production begins with a dream by Trump's daughter, Ivanka, where her father has a twin brother named Chuan Pu, living in China. When Trump is kidnapped by aliens from Mars, Ivanka asks Chuan to pretend to be Trump for a day. In another act, Trump has a dramatic fight with Zelenskiy's presidential double over his clothing in the White House, and shoots him with a water gun from Chinese online shopping site Taobao while Zelenskiy pretends to have been shot. The actors perform against a backdrop of photos from the actual events. Li said he chose Trump as the main character because his tariffs and policies had affected everyone's daily life. 'I think this opera is quite a special medicine for the whole world,' Li said. 'If people see this opera they will feel very happy because they think of love and peace.' Cantonese opera actor Lung Koon-tin, who portrayed Trump, said the US president was unique. 'He increased tariffs and made the whole world speak out.' Lung said China and the US should be good friends. 'We are Chinese and he is American, but friendship always lives long. That's why we talk about Sino–US friendship in the play.' The audience erupted in laughter throughout the performance, breaking into enthusiastic applause at the end. Many of them were younger people, including 28-year-old Thomas Lo. He said that modern youth often felt disconnected from traditional Cantonese opera but the Trump-themed show, infused with contemporary events, offered a refreshing twist. 'It's fun and really something special,' Lo said. — Reuters
