ENG-1995 — Page 417

RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS

Ashkenazy, Yo-yo Ma, the Martha Graham Dance Company, the Shanghai Ballet, and the Cloud Gate Dance Company. The Grand Theatre played host to the musical The Phantom of the Opera, fully demonstrating its ability to stage first-class performances.

The Cultural Centre reaches out to the community. Special free audience building programmes, education programmes and a Friends Scheme are organised to promote public interest in the performing arts.

City Hall

This was the first full year that people could enjoy the results of a $50 million face-lift for the City Hall, completed at the end of 1994. A grand staircase was built in the new Memorial Garden to link up the Marriage Registry and a sunken courtyard. A new marble sculpture She by local artist Mr Wu Man-wai was installed, in addition to the existing Henry Moore bronze sculpture Woman.

The 1 448-seat Concert Hall and 463-seat Theatre continued to be popular venues for local music and theatre groups. In 1995, 220 000 people attended 532 perform- ances in the City Hall and 114 exhibitions were held.

Community Arts Centres

The Urban Council runs four community arts centres - the Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre, Sheung Wan Civic Centre, Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre and Ko Shan Theatre. They play an active role in promoting district-based cultural activities.

Each centre includes a theatre and various other ancillary facilities such as exhibition hall, lecture hall, art studios and practice rooms. During the year, the centres were used for 810 cultural and entertainment performances, including dramas, Cantonese operas, concerts, variety shows, arts festivals and ceremonies, for audiences totalling 198 192.

The Ko Shan Theatre was closed temporarily from mid-July 1994 for major improvement works. The theatre auditorium, which has 989 seats, will have air- conditioning installed. The open-air section will be demolished and replaced by a new foyer block housing rehearsal facilities, committee room and a cafeteria. The stage, lighting and sound systems will all be improved. The refurbished Ko Shan Theatre is scheduled to re-open in September 1996.

Indoor Stadia

The Hong Kong Coliseum and Queen Elizabeth Stadium, managed by the Council, are two of the best-equipped, multi-purpose indoor stadia in Asia. The 12 500-seat Coliseum is a popular venue not only for pop concerts by local and international performers, but also for world-class entertainment spectaculars. Highlights of the year included concerts by local pop stars such as Faye Wong, Paula Tsui, Anita Mui, Jacky Cheung and Leon Lai; and by overseas artists James Taylor, Phil Collins and the Gipsy Kings as well as the pop group Air Supply. Popular family entertainment programmes such as Doraventure Musical, Moscow State Circus and Walt Disney World On Ice were also staged.

The compact 3 500-seat Queen Elizabeth Stadium plays host to numerous medium- sized productions, ranging from sports events, pop concerts and cultural programmes to conventions. Highlights of 1995 included the Shao Lin Martial Art Performance

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