RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS
The Chung Ying Theatre Company
The Chung Ying Theatre Company continued to serve local audiences of all ages with the ongoing support of the Council for the Performing Arts. In 1993, the company once again presented locally-commissioned works, continuing to encourage local playwrights and directors. The first local work was The Legend of a Storyteller, by Cheung Tat-ming, in collaboration with guest director Fredric Mao, for the 1993 Hong Kong Arts Festival. The second was Taxi Driver by James Cheung, directed by Suen Wai-fong as part of Chung Ying's Studio Shorts '93 at the Hong Kong Arts Centre's Shouson Theatre. Finally, the company introduced young playwright Annie Chan to local audiences in June, with her first work Ah Mew's Move, directed by Wong Yuen-ling at the City Hall Theatre.
The company also devised original works as part of an internal programme to extend and develop the performing skills of its members. Drawing upon techniques explored during a period of study leave last year, veteran Chung Ying Director and actor Lee Chun-chow worked with other company members to create the unique production Oops! Back Again in September at the Shouson Theatre. Guest Director Gerry Flanagan, who had previously worked with Chung Ying to devise the popular clowning production Fools, Fools, Fools, returned to the company in November to direct a newly-devised mask production Don't Let Go!
A further highlight of 1993 for Chung Ying was an invitation to participate in the Vancouver Children's Festival, an international showcase of work for young audiences. The company presented Monkey See Monkey Do, directed by Artistic Director Chris Johnson, in Vancouver and at related festivals in Calgary and Saskatoon - a total of 21 performances. The production returned in August to play at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre's Fun Week.
Another theatre work in the 1993 programme for young audiences was Whale by David Holman, directed by Chris Johnson at the Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre for July's International Carnival. The unique feature of this production was the appearance on stage of 30 local children with Chung Ying's players.
The company continued its school touring programme with Canadian playwright Dennis Foon's Skin, which toured secondary schools before being presented on stage as part of Studio Shorts '93. The popular story-telling and story-building programme introduced by the company continued to be a success throughout 1993, with presentations at venues as varied as Ocean Park, schools and regional centres.
City Contemporary Dance Company
The City Contemporary Dance Company, Hong Kong's first professional modern dance company, participated in the Hong Kong Arts Festival 1993 with the dance production Quadrille. This featured original music compositions and dance works by eight local professional choreographers and composers. A multi-media concert Box Side 10- Lock Head Jig performed jointly with The Box, an experimental pop music group, was presented in March. Journey to the West, a family dance drama, choreographed by Artistic Director Willy Tsao, was re-staged at the Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts' Lyric Theatre in the summer. A new version of Journey to the West - The Red Baby King was also commissioned by the Regional Council for the Christmas and New Year holiday
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