The Hong Kong Drama Association (Drama Association) is the united assembly for drama groups and professionals in Hong Kong. Since its establishment in 1992, the “Hong Kong Stage Drama Awards Ceremony” has been held annually. It aims to summarize the achievements of the Hong Kong drama industry each year, recognize outstanding stage practitioners from the past year, encourage the industry to elevate its production standards, and allow the audience to appreciate more brilliant works.
The “32nd Hong Kong Drama Awards Ceremony” was successfully held recently on April 29, with a total of 19 theater groups, 24 productions, and a total of 64 theater workers competing for and receiving 20 awards; the entire event was also live-streamed online, making it quite lively.
This year’s awards ceremony is different from previous ones, as due to limited resources, there will no longer be invited presenters and hosts. Instead, the staff of the Drama Association will take on these roles, with the purpose of continuing the mission. However, there will still be many familiar faces at the awards ceremony, including Fiona Sit, who was nominated for and won the Best Actress in a Comedy for her role in the stage play “The Big Divorce Day”, and Dayo Wong, who was selected as one of the outstanding productions of the year for the stage play “Love Me Don’t Leave Me” and is competing for the Best Actor in a Comedy alongside Chapman To Lau Hoi-kang and others.
Apart from the dazzling award presenters who draw attention, the list of winners is also a major focus. Whether one wins or not, it is a support and recognition of the efforts of numerous stage producers. Beyond various awards, the “Outstanding Production of the Year” is also the highlight of the past year’s stage plays.
As the name suggests, it is a judging panel composed of professionals from various positions in the industry such as editors, directors, actors, critics, designers, managers, etc., to select the most outstanding works of the past year’s stage plays. This year, eight highlighted productions were selected; some draw inspiration from classics for reinterpretation, while others will be reprised with acclaim. Don’t miss the chance to enjoy them again!
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One, “The Heroic Legend: The Defeat of the Tiger and the Dragon in Chapter 2023”
Original: Molière (France)
Adaptation: Fang Junjie | Guo Yongkang
Director: Fang Junjie
Drama Composer: Yu Tingzhi
Starring: Ouyang Jun | Shen Weiqiang (※ group) | Gao Hanwen (※ group) | Yu Hanting (○ group) | Wu Jialiang (○ group) | Chen Jiale | Chen Jiao
Adapted from the original work “The Tricks of Scapin” by the French comedy master Molière, it is full of Hong Kong-style comedic elements. The longstanding feud between the Fuk Fu Gang and the Lowland Fortress has yet to be decided. Just on the day of the annual showdown, the leaders of the two factions suddenly announce an alliance, deciding that the young masters of both sides should marry each other’s daughters. The young masters, caught up in this unexpected turn of events, are in distress. The family servant, Mr. Shi, can’t bear to see the young masters troubled by love and decides to offer them advice and schemes, setting the stage for a grand finale where all ends well.
The play combines various cultural and theatrical elements, and the actors’ “collective creation” makes the characters lively and multidimensional, bringing laughter to the audience and a rare delight. The “Shijia Ben” team won a total of 6 major awards for its outstanding production. Ouyang Jun won the Best Actor (Comedy/Farce) award for the second consecutive time, while director Fang Junjie, after winning the Best Director (Tragedy/Drama) award last year for “The Great King,” achieved another success this year with “Shijia Ben,” winning the Best Director (Comedy/Farce) award.
“When brewing ‘The Historian,’ I remember a sentence from Sir Poon, ‘Create with peace of mind, sharing honor and disgrace,’ allowing the entire production team to create boldly.” – Director Fang Junjie
2. “Vegetative State”
Playwright and Director: Huang Chengxin
Actors: Guo Cuiyi, Chen Yingxuan, Huang Chengxin, Huang Zhaoxin, Zhao Yiyi, Cai Minghang
Physical Composition: Qiu Jiaxi
Co-Producers: Yin Weicheng, Tan Zengjiangyan
Inspired by the Korean novels “The Vegetarian” by Han Kang and “The Dream of a Lonely Walker” by Rousseau, this play depicts a woman who stops eating meat after a dream, leading to various reactions from her family. It reveals an individual’s attempt to break free from societal norms, the desire for seclusion, and the endless consumption of all living beings by humans.
From the inspiration of the script, the gender misplacement of characters, and the exposure of performance elements, further explore the intersection of gender and aesthetics, especially when male bodies portray female roles. These multiple perspectives in storytelling provoke a deeper sense of conflict and impact, leading to a reflection on the definitions imposed on us by the world. What truly defines normalcy or abnormality? Where do standards lie?
The Art Gentleman team also received a total of 9 nominations for “The Vegetative,” becoming the most nominated theater group of this year’s edition. In the end, they successfully took home 4 awards, including Best Sound Design, Best Supporting Actress (Tragedy/Drama), Best Leading Actress (Tragedy/Drama), and Best Director (Tragedy/Drama).
Three, “From Golden Bell to Moscow”
Playwright and Drama Composition: Pan Huisen
Director: Li Zhenzhou
Starring: Chen Jiale, Mai Jingwen
Just because of a short story by Chekhov, the tour guide Matei Hsing and actress Chen Xiaoyan suddenly traveled from Hong Kong’s Admiralty to late 19th-century Russia! On the train to Moscow, absurd life scenes unfold inside and outside the window one after another. Presenting with humor Chekhov’s insightful exploration of the human heart in the great Russian writer’s short stories, the interweaving of regions and eras will be juxtaposed on stage, presenting a hyper-realism more real than reality itself.
The play concludes with a lively and colorful party, juxtaposing the three years of the epidemic with “life” and “journey,” bringing out different experiences or observations. Pan Huishen’s dramaturgical strategy not only satirizes “life with joys and sorrows,” but also triggers the audience to think more deeply, evoking a myriad of emotions.
The play “From Golden Bell to Moscow” features a diverse range of characters, including 2 original characters by Pan Sir, 38 characters from Chekhov’s works, and Chekhov himself, all vividly depicted and performed brilliantly. The story reflects on the past, connects the present, and is appreciated by both the elite and the commoners, drawing profound insights from a series of Chekhov’s short stories about the meaning of life. In the end, the production also won 3 awards, including Best Lighting Design, Best Stage Design, and Best Supporting Actress (Comedy/Farce).
Four, “Silent Dust”
Playwright: Li Weile
Director: Lu Yijing
Drama Consultant: Zhong Zhaoxi
Actors: Chen Shuyi, Song Benhao, Chen Liewen, Guo Erjun, Li Yizheng, Lin Yanting
The top performer encounters a small whirlpool in life, although small, once trapped inside, it is hard to get out on their own, a little relaxation can devour a person. A spiritual exchange immediately unfolds, before the whirlpool, how can one choose? Advance or retreat, float or sink. On the night’s dark and lost journey, who lights the way for whom?
From the perspective of these expected young people, some will conform to social expectations, while others will resist and choose to compromise. There are also those who force themselves to comply, leading to emotional issues. This character setting not only reflects the current situation in Hong Kong in recent years but also responds to reality, engaging in a dialogue with reality, conveying feelings of powerlessness, oppression, distortion, and sighs.
This “silent dust falling” story is composed of flesh-and-blood stories. Listen carefully, in fact, every heart’s voice and story resound loudly.
Five, “Martyrdom by Explosion”
Playwright, Director: Yixiu
Actors: Deng Weijie, Huang Xueye
Composer, Live musician, and Actor: Huang Xiaochu
She, a student from the Department of Literature, surprisingly defeated all the students from the Engineering Department, winning the grand prize and earning the opportunity to access the university’s computer system; while he, the vice president of the university, didn’t believe that she had no ulterior motives, leading to a tense dialogue between teacher and student, creating the final chapter of the death trilogy.
This story about the possibility of sacrificing for one’s beliefs is particularly poignant and heavy, which makes contemplating life and death difficult. In the face of fear of death, one might feel powerless, leading to a deeper reflection on the definition of “sacrifice” in one’s heart.
The macro control system and chain reactions depicted in the play serve to demonstrate that the world is not simply black and white, and the brilliance of the play led it to win the Best Script Award.
After writing scripts for thirty years without ever winning a scriptwriting award, Yau (Leung Sing-hin) finally wins the “Best Script” award this time. Upon receiving the award, despite saying that hard work and dedication speak for themselves, he also expressed: “Even though the play doesn’t mention who wins in the end, I firmly believe that as long as we persist in using our lives to influence others’ lives, we will definitely win in the end.”
Six, “The Cost of Living We Don’t Know About”
Playwright: Martyna Majok
Translator: Zhen Batao
Director: Luo Songjian
Cast: Deng Weijie, Hong Jiehua, Liang Haobang, Huang Wanhua
The script is translated from Martina Majok’s “Cost of Living”, originally premiered in the United States in 2016, won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2018, and had a total of 40 performances on Broadway, receiving critical acclaim. Bringing it to the stage in Hong Kong, this production delves into the genuine and profound emotions between characters through the lives of people on the margins of society, shedding light on the invisible “costs of living” faced by vulnerable communities.
Two marginalized individuals in the city: unemployed truck driver Eddie takes care of his paraplegic ex-wife Ani; struggling college graduate Jess applies to be the private caregiver for wealthy yet suffering from cerebral palsy doctoral student John. Amidst the winter snow in New Jersey, there is a sense of growing distance despite getting closer.
And Leung Ho Pong won the Best Supporting Actor (Tragedy/Drama) award with his outstanding performance in this drama.
7. “Love Me, Don’t Leave”
Screenwriter: Zoe Chuang
Director: Chen Shuxi
Cast: Wong Cho-wah, Lam Hoi-fung
Producer: Wang Yaozu, Zhou Yi, Wong Yee-man
In the spring of 2023, a mysterious figure arrived in this city. He seemed somewhat like a Time Traveler, completely unfamiliar with the place, yet appearing to possess profound knowledge. He had a mission: to locate an old friend who had lost contact and deliver an important box to him. It is said that inside the box lies the culmination of Mr. Lin’s lifelong endeavors. Mr. Lin aims to find his long-lost creditor friend, Mr. Huang, and repay him the debt of half a century’s worth of gratitude.
“Don’t Leave Me” is from the hands of the famous playwright Zhuang Meiyan. She has won the Best Script Award at the Hong Kong Theatre Awards seven times. Along with the combination of Wong Cho-lam and Lam Hoi-fung starring in it, as soon as the stage play preview was released, it sparked public anticipation. With a total of 49 performances, tickets were hard to come by, and even additional performances were full house.
In the play, Wong Cho Wah and Lam Hoi Fung sing and dance, each portraying 10 roles, depicting ten short stories about the lives and relationships of Hong Kong people. It reflects on and extends to friends, family, lovers, or the city, aiming to bring joy to the “ones who stay.” It is entertaining, experimental without losing theatrical elements, and filled with sharp dialogues that convey people’s reflections on society and life.
Although the show has ended, the original soundtrack album and script collection of the stage play have been released. The band Dear Jane was invited to give a new interpretation of the song “Love Me, Don’t Leave Me” for the stage play, bringing different effects and joy to the audience in various forms. The script collection, in its “true and uncut” form, allows the audience to delve into the world of the playwright’s creation, ensuring they don’t miss out.
Eight, “The Devil’s Pen”
Playwright: Doug Wright
Translation and Director: Hu Haihui
Actors: Li Jingchang, Lu Wenjie, Qiao Baozhong, Luo Zhengxin, Wu Jieyin @Yung Theater, Zhang Zhimin
Adapted from the stage play Quills by contemporary American playwright Doug Wright, the Chinese title of the play is translated as “Satan’s Wild Pen,” inspired by the real historical figure of the Marquis de Sade in France, exploring taboo subjects such as censorship, sexuality, and violence.
The Marquis de Sade of France had extraordinary talent, yet his subject matter was unconventional. Even when confined to a mental institution, he tirelessly continued to create. However, his work was so shocking that both the asylum and his wife wanted him silenced. The life of Sade was full of legends, and the brilliance of the whole drama lies in highlighting the tension and relationship between the artwork, the audience, and the censorship authorities through the interactions, conflicts, and verbal duels of the characters, allowing the audience to feel the spirit of the artist in adversity.
“All creative industries in Hong Kong are not easy, they should be done extensively, not just on a small scale.“
This award ceremony is themed around “wind”, signifying the industry’s dedication to creating artworks in post-pandemic Hong Kong. The goal is to blow away past gloom, nurture life, influence lives, and create works in different styles, all rooted in original intentions, maintaining their integrity and integrity!
It is not easy to hold the event successfully amidst multiple challenges. We hope to continue seeking innovation, inheriting traditions, uniting, and promoting the development of the Hong Kong drama industry. As mentioned by Wong Cho-Lam: “For us creators, especially in terms of performance, there are not many creative opportunities in awards ceremonies. Especially when the theatrical industry is struggling, we should do more of these things. Otherwise, I think it’s not beneficial to all creative endeavors in Hong Kong.“
