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Renowned Cantonese Opera artistes Yuen Siu-fai and San Kim-long have been educators of Cantonese Opera for years, promoting Cantonese Opera in schools. The two artistes have designed a Cantonese Opera education programme centred round the Cantonese Opera classic, The Orphan of Zhao. The programme aims to enhance the students' ability to appreciate Cantonese operas and to stimulate their interest in the art form. The programme includes pre-performance demonstration workshop, the performance and post-performance discussion.
Programme Content
About The Orphan of Zhao
The story of The Orphan of Zhao originated from “the disaster of Xia Gong”, a historical event happened in the State of Jin during the Spring and Autumn Period. The story tells about the execution of the household and relatives of Zhao Dun, a high official of Jin, owing to the false incrimination made by Tu Anjia. Zhao’s friends Cheng Ying and Gongsun Chujiu risked their lives to protect Zhao Wu, the posthumous child of Zhao Su, son of Zhao Dun, from being killed. When Zhao Wu grew up, he revenged his family and killed the family of Tu. The script of this performance was arranged by Yuen Siu-fai who refined the story to make it a concise two-hour Cantonese opera. Whilst the students apprehend the theme of the story, they can also enjoy the artistic expressions of Cantonese opera, and learn about its costumes, make-up and music. Yuen and other major performers will also join together to share their opinions and feelings about Chinese opera with students.
Major performers/Casts
Yuen Siu-fai (Cheng Ying)
Sun Kim-long (Zhao Su)
Leung Wai-hong (Tu Anjia)
Chui Yuet-ming (Cheng’s wife)
Chen Ming-ying (Zhuang Ji)
Lai Yiu-wai (Wei Jiang)
Miu Dan-ching (Gongsun Chujiu)
Students attending the programme will be given educational materials, which include an introduction to Chinese Opera, the history of Cantonese Opera, script analysis, the Cantonese Opera ensemble and music, Cantonese Opera singing, structure of the tunes, Chinese Opera theatre and scenography. The information is expected to enable students to acquire a deeper understanding of, and interest in, the art of Cantonese Opera. Under the guidance of teachers, participants are encouraged to write reviews on the programme afterwards in school, expressing their opinions on the performance and discussing their written reviews with other students.
Pre-Performance Demonstration Workshop
Based on the story of The Orphan of Zhao and supplemented with elaboration and demonstration, the students can understand the arts of Cantonese opera and the features of this repertoire before they enjoy the performance of the famous Cantonese opera artists. The workshop will be hosted by Yuen Siu-fai or Sun Kim-long. Content of the workshop include:
- Introduction of the role type system of Cantonese opera: The Orphan of Zhao - an opera in which a bearded male character plays the leading role
- Play script: Yip Siu-tak and The Orphan of Zhao – a transplant from Beijing opera to Cantonese opera
- Music: A brief discussion about Cantonese percussion and the percussion section of other provinces, and also Bang-huang and songs of Cantonese opera
- Symbolic meaning of the virtual images on stage: Concepts such as programme and condensed time/space and opera artistic expressions
Students who attend this programme will be awarded a Certificate of Attendance.
Programme Details
| Date |
13-14.4.2010 (Tue-Wed) |
21.4.2010 (Wed) |
22.4.2010 (Thur) |
23.4.2010 (Fri) |
| Time |
2:30pm |
| Venue |
Theatre, Sheung Wan Civic Centre |
Theatre, Ko Shan Theatre |
Auditorium, Tsuen Wan Town Hall |
Auditorium, Tuen Mun Town Hall |
| No. of Participants |
470/performance |
850 |
900 |
1 000 |
| Duration |
Approx. 2hrs 45 mins |
| Ticket Price |
$40 (Students, Teachers)
Includes pre-performance demonstration workshop and performance cum post-performance discussion |
Language used
in performance |
Cantonese |
| Date |
March to April 2010
(actual date and time will be arranged with participating schools) |
| Venue |
In school or at LCSD Performing Venues* |
| No. of Participants |
150 / school * |
| Duration |
Approx. 1.5 hrs |
| Ticket Price |
Students and teachers who purchase performance tickets can attend the workshop free of charge
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Language used for
guided performance |
Cantonese |
For purchase of 150 tickets or more, demonstration workshops will be conducted in school premises. For participants numbering less than 150 from a school, students and teachers are invited to attend workshops held at LCSD performing venues.
Enquiries: 2268 7263 (LCSD)
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