“Let’s Enjoy Cantonese Opera in Bamboo Theatre” is organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department with support from the Ha Tsuen Rural Community’s 2014 Jiao Affairs Committee, Tai Po Old Market Tin Hau Temple in Tai Po Market Social Event Control Committee and Cha Kwo Ling Villagers Fraternity Association. Under this programme, Cantonese opera excerpts for students, including The Nymph of the Azure Pond and Battle at Chang Ban Po, are performed at distinctive bamboo theatres in three different districts, and parent-child interactive activities are organised for the audience. The aim of this programme is to provide the public, in particular students, with opportunities to set foot on bamboo theatres to learn more about this unique kind of temporary structure and to appreciate Cantonese operas, thereby enabling transmission of traditional Chinese culture and arts from generation to generation.
Performance Time: 10:30am, 2pm
Each session lasts for about 2 hours
| Date | Venue |
|---|---|
| 18 – 19 December 2014 (Thu – Fri) |
Yuen Long Ha Tsuen Heung Bamboo Theatre (Sik Kong Tsuen, Ha Mei Road, Ha Tsuen, Yuen Long) (Completed) |
| 14 – 15 May 2015 (Thu – Fri) |
Tai Po Tin Hau Temple Fung Shui Square Bamboo Theatre (Ting Kok Road, Tai Po) (Completed) |
| 18 – 19 May 2015 (Mon – Tue) |
Cha Kwo Ling Village Tin Hau Temple Bamboo Theatre (Cha Kwo Ling Road, Kwun Tong) (Completed) |
Performed in Cantonese
Free admission by tickets
Free tickets are distributed on a first-come-first-served basis. Each patron may get a maximum of 4 tickets.
| 1. | By Mail Please send a stamped self-addressed envelope to: Audience Building Office, LCSD 11th Floor, Queen Elizabeth Stadium, 18 Oi Kwan Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong Please mark ‘Request for free ticket for “Let’s Enjoy Cantonese Opera in Bamboo Theatre”’ on the envelope and indicate performance date, time and number of ticket. |
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| 2. | Obtain In Person Tickets are distributed one month in advance to each performance at the enquiry counters of Hong Kong Cultural Centre and Hong Kong City Hall Low Block Time of Distribution: Monday to Sunday, 9am - 9pm Tickets of individual performances are also distributed one month in advance at the following venues: Office Hours: Monday to Friday (Except Public Holidays), 9am - 7pm |
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| i. | Performances on 18-19/12/2014: (Completed) Yuen Long District Office Public Enquiry Service Center (G/F., Yuen Long District Office Building, 269 Castle Peak Road, Yuen Long, N.T.) |
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| ii. | Performances on 14-15/5/2015: (Completed) Tai Po District Office Public Enquiry Service Center (G/F., Tai Po Government Offices Building, 1 Ting Kok Road, Tai Po, N.T.) |
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| iii. | Performances on 18-19/5/2015: (Completed)
Kwun Tong District Office Public Enquiry Service Center (Address: G/F., The Grande Building, 398 Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon) |
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The Nymph of the Azure Pond In a shabby hut next to the Azure Pond, Zheng diligently studies. A carp nymph living in the pond is impressed by his effort and transforms into Jin Mudan to comfort him. Falling in love with Zheng, the carp nymph breaks the laws of divine. Bodhisattva Guanyin sends deities from heaven to subdue these aquatic creatures. The carp nymph and Zhen are on the run and confess when they are pursued by the heavenly soldiers. Zhen tells them that he is grateful for the love of the carp nymph and wants to stay with her forever despite that she is not human being. Ultimately, the tribe of aquatic creatures loses the battle against the divine. But sympathising with them, Bodhisattva Guanyin saves the carp nymph. In the name of love, the carp nymph gives up being a demigod, painfully removes her scales and is relegated to the mortal world, where she lives happily ever after with Zhen.
Cast
| The Carp Nymph | - Chan Kei-ting/Wong Kit-fong |
| Naja | - Yuen Sin-ting |
| Li Jing | - Shum Pak-chuen |
Battle of Chang Ban Po
During the Three Kingdoms period, Liu Bei escaped to Jiangxia. As he was being pursued by Cao Cao’s army, he became separated from and lost touch with his family. By order of Liu Bei, military general Zhao Yun rode on horseback to break the siege on his own. He rescued Liu Bei’s family and Lady Mi. Lady Mi entrusted her son, Ah Dou, to Zhao and then threw herself into a well. Zhao carried Ah Dou and broke through Cao’s army numbering one million combat soldiers. Also, Zhang Fei, another military general of Liu Bei, ferociously battled and fended off Cao Cao's force in Chang Ban Bridge.
Cast
| Lady Mi | -Chan Kei-ting/Wong Kit-fong |
| Zhao Yun | - Ng Lap-hei |
| Zhang Fei | - Au Kim-lun |
| Liu Bei | - Tam Wing-lun |
| Cao Cao | - Kwok Kai-fai |
Architectural Characteristics of Bamboo Theatres
A brief introduction on how a bamboo theatre is erected and its relations with the folk sacrificial customs to give the audience an insight into this distinctive traditional architecture.
Cantonese Operatic Singing
Cantonese opera master Sun Kim-long will show the audience the difference between Ping Hou (the male voice) and Zi Hou (the female voice) and their respective vocal skills. He will also demonstrate and invite the audience to sing along and enjoy the fun of Cantonese operatic singing.
Demonstration of Da Jia, Ma Dang Zi and sparring with weapons
Stylised movements are one of the four essential elements in Cantonese opera. As the saying goes “one minute on the stage takes ten years’ hard work off stage”, the splendid performances of the actors on stage are not the work of one single day. In this session, Cantonese opera actors will demonstrate Da Jia (a set of actions), Ma Dang Zi (a set of actions with horsewhip) and sparring with weapons so as to enhance their appreciation of the art of Cantonese opera.
Stage Make-up and Costumes
Unique aesthetic values are shown in the beautiful make-up and colourful costumes of Chinese opera actors. This session introduces and demonstrates to the audience the make-up of huandan (female) and chousheng (comic male), and enables young audience to present themselves on the stage as child Cantonese opera actors in full make-up and real costumes especially prepared for them.
Parent-child Interactive Activities
Two parent-child interactive activities are organised with the themes Horse Riding and Water Sleeves. Participating and guardians will act as the leading young actor and the groom, or the young lady and her maid, under the guidance of the host. These enjoyable activities offer a wonderful opportunity for children and guardians to learn about Cantonese opera together by taking the roles of historical figures to explore the world of traditional arts.
Ha Tsuen Rural Community’s 2014 Jiao Affairs Committee
Tai Po Old Market Tin Hau Temple in Tai Po Market Social Event Control Committee
Cha Kwo Ling Villagers Fraternity Association
| Master of ceremony: | Sun Kim long |
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| Performers: | Chan Kei-ting*#/Wong Kit-fong^, Yuen Sin-ting, Shum Pak-chuen, Ng Lap-hei, Kwok Kai-fai, Au Kim-lun, Au Kim-hang, Tam Wing-lun, Hon Yin-ming |
| Parent-child Interactive Activities: | Wong Hai-wing*/Lam Tsz-ching#^, Ng Kwok-wa, Leung Siu-mei |
| Organiser: | Wong Siu-sang |
| Project Coordinator: | RhapsoArts Management Limited |
*Yuen Long Bamboo Theatre #Tai Po Bamboo Theatre ^Kwun Tong Bamboo Theatre
Yuen Long Ha Tsuen Heung Bamboo Theatre
(Sik Kong Tsuen, Ha Mei Road, Ha Tsuen, Yuen Long)

Getting here:
By bus K65 to Sik Kong Wai from MTR Tin Shui Wai Station Exit B
By minibus 33, 34 or 35 to Sik Kong Wai from Yuen Long Town or MTR Tin Shui Wai Station
Tai Po Tin Hau Temple Fung Shui Square Bamboo Theatre
(Ting Kok Road, Tai Po)

Getting here:
By bus K12 to bus terminus from Uptown Plaza of MTR Tai Po Market Station and then walk for 5 minutes
By bus: K21, 64K, 71K, 72, 72A, 73, 74K, 75K, 271
By minibus: 20C, 21A
Cha Kwo Ling Village Tin Hau Temple Bamboo Theatre
(Cha Kwo Ling Road, Kwun Tong)
Getting here:
By minibus 23B from Yan Oi Court, MTR Kwun Tong Station Exit A1
By minibus 23C from MTR Lam Tin Station Exit D1 or Yau Tong Station Exit B2