A New Page of Drama

periscope Cour TES y of S H irl E y C HE A NEW PAGE ung OF DRAMA by Connie Lau and Vivien Liu Drama in HK has changed a lot since it first set foot in China 100 years ago. oving from a niche culture to popular “The ‘celebrity effect’ of entertainment, western-style theatrical drama Min Hong Kong has changed significantly since it Chim is only a deployment first came to China 100 years ago. Drama has appealed to the mass public by adapting to the commercial to promote dramas.” environment and transforming itself to be more Cour interactive. TES y of C Jim Chim Sui-man, a leading actor in the drama H i M industry, has gained great success in recent years; Man of Sui- M la Tiger, a solo drama by Chim, has had 128 performances an since its debut in 2005. The show broke the attendance record for solo performance of local dramas in May of this year, having been seen by over 90,000 people. Chim founded the Theatre Ensemble in 1993 with his wife Yan Wing-Pui, who is also a veteran drama actress and producer. Chim has produced more than 30 dramas in the past 15 years. He has also acted in local movies since 2001, and was nominated as Best Supporting th Actor at the 24 Hong Kong Film Awards for Driving Chim Sui-man dressed up as, the two candidates running for the Chief Executive Miss Wealthy. election last year in the poster of Man of la Tiger 2007 9 periscope periscope Vi V i period of time preparing for just one “It is an interesting way (of “The government proposed to E n l iu night’s performance.” performing). I have never seen before. develop West Kowloon as a cultural It is attractive and increases my interest district. It only focuses on the Tickets for this year’s production, in drama in some sense,” said Leung establishment of the theatre,” said Lokamochi Mamiba, are on sale for Wai-jan, who has not seen this kind of Yeung. “It is difficult to make the mass the first time. In past years, tickets drama before, “at least, it lets me have be concerned about the aesthetics of “Some artistic qualities have were distributed as gifts in radio more chance to approach drama.” drama arts.” programmes. This time, all the tickets to be sacrificed if you want to were sold out in two hours. “It gave me a big surprise, as I don’t Interactive drama takes many other appeal to the mass.” know they were performing,” said forms, like ‘people theatre’ and ‘forum “Some artistic qualities have to be another audience member, Chan Si- theatre.’ Yeung said ‘people theatre’ sacrificed if you want to appeal to the man. “After that I thought more about meant the theatre of the people, for mass audience. We are just like the what they wanted to tell us. It is quite the people and by the people: “Actors cover of a magazine which is rich and interesting and meaningful!” and audience have equal status in people theatre.” “The main element of art For ‘forum theatre,’ according to Sammy leung Chi-kin founded the Sammy & Siu yi Yeung, the audience is encouraged to Ensemble in 1999. is people.” join in the middle of the drama and “The ‘celebrity effect’ of Chim is bring out the art in a more entertaining Another characteristic of Leung’s so they are able to change the ending only a means to promote dramas,” said way.” productions is that most of the actors of the story. “This lets the audience Stephen Chan Chung-yan, marketing are not professionals. Every year, flourishing,” Leung said. “What we want “This kind of performance is know that there is more than just and communications manager of While Chim has been involving teenagers are recruited as voluntary to do is to make people take the first called ‘invisible’ drama,” Dr. Lo Wai- one possibility in the world,” Yeung Theatre Ensemble. “He has a duty in mass entertainment industry like actors and pop stars are invited to play step towards a basic knowledge of the luk, Associate Professor of Cinema explained. behind (his involvement in movies). It movies and advertisements, some in the dramas. For example, singers like great art of drama. After all, the ability and Television of the School of is to popularise art.” artists from the entertainment Joey Yung Cho-yee, Denise Ho Wan- to make one smile is also an art.” Communication of Hong Kong Baptist Whether traditional or interactive, industry are moving into drama. see, and Fiona Sit Hoi-kei were invited University, explained. “It is a form of Yeung thinks that drama should be Chan admitted that there was an Sammy Leung Chi-kin, a popular DJ to play in this year’s production. While some in the drama industry interactive drama that originated inspiring. “The main element of art is intention for their promotions to cater in Commercial Radio (CR), founded modify themselves to approach the during the war against Japan in China people,” said Yeung. “People make up to the taste of the mass. “For example, the Sammy & Siu Yi Ensemble in 1999. Leung said the penetration of pop mass, others choose a different way. in the 1930s.” lives, and drama should originate from Chim dressed up as Donald Tsang Yam- Each summer since then, a drama has stars into local dramas was good On Valentine’s Day, a couple quarreled our daily lives.” V a kuen and Alan Leong Kah-kit, the two been produced. There was a message because pop stars and traditional in a street in Mong Kok and were “Traditional drama interacts with ng E l l candidates running for the Chief Ex- behind each of their dramas, Leung drama actors could affect and surrounded by a crowd. The woman the audience through eye contacts i ecutive election last year in the poster added. For instance, Big Nose, which benefit one another. “In recent years, found out that the man had another and applause,” said Dr. Lo. “Interactive of Man of la Tiger 2007,” Chan said. “We used a circus to represent a psychiatric traditional dramas have become girlfriend and wanted to break up with drama needs the audience to be try to stimulate audiences’ reactions hospital, projected his feelings after more entertaining, while many pop him. The man asked for the woman’s involved in the drama instead of by using themes which Hong Kong being reprimanded by CR in 2006. singers like Denise Ho Wan-see and forgiveness. When the woman was playing a passive role.” people would be sympathetic to.” Miriam Yeung Chin-wah have added ready to leave, a passer-by gave the Leung described the dramas they stage elements into their concerts and man flowers and encouraged him to Banky Yeung Ping-kei, the Art Though such marketing strategies produced as “pop operas” because performance,” he added. propose to the woman. Director of FM Theatre Power, said aimed for appealing to the mass, Chan they had added some new elements that interactive drama was an easier said that the quality of the drama which were not found in traditional Still, singers and stars who are not The man and the woman were way to approach a wider audience. would not be lowered. “The dramas opera. “Traditional operas and professional drama actors may need to not a couple at all. They were actors “Though (we have) no stage, no are still educational and they inspire musicals use songs to tell the story,” he take extra effort in practice. “We have of FM Theatre Power performing in seats, no theatre and (we only) play audiences to have introspection on explained. “But songs in our drama are to spend much time learning the body the street. When they revealed their in the street, interactive drama is social issues. Their artistic quality is only for emphasizing the feelings of a movements and facial expressions identities at last, the audience in the more efficient in connecting with the Banky yeung Ping-kei refers interactive drama as high,” he added. “What we do is only to particular moment in a plot.” in drama,” he said. “You spend a long street was surprised and impressed. audience directly,” Yeung said. an easier way to approach a wider audience. 10 11.

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