The Hong Kong Arts Festival announces the rescheduled performances of
A Thorn Hairpin and Praying to the Moon in November
Tickets available from 19 October 2020
(Hong Kong, 15 October 2020)
The Hong Kong Arts Festival (HKAF) announces two Cantonese opera productions—A Thorn Hairpin and Praying to the Moon—to be presented in November 2020. The two operas were originally planned as part of the Four Southern Opera Classics series at the 48th HKAF in February and March. Tickets for these two operas will be on sale from 19 October.
“We are very pleased to be able to present these operas at this time. The artists have made tremendous efforts to make this possible, and we are very grateful for the great partnership. It is a rare chance to have this exceptional line-up, and I hope both the artists and audiences will enjoy the experience,” says Ms Tisa Ho, Executive Director of HKAF.
Southern opera, or nanxi, originated in Wenzhou during the turbulent Song Dynasty and blossomed in subsequent eras, as various nanxi plays were developed into more refined works of kunqu, Cantonese opera and other regional operas. The two below operas have each evolved from one of the four classic nanxi.
A Thorn Hairpin
Cantonese opera A Thorn Hairpin is a drama of unwavering love through separation and reunion, starring on-and-off-screen couple Liza Wang and Law Kar-ying, alongside a star-studded cast of veteran Cantonese opera artists. This version preserves the poignant, dramatic tension of Yip Siu-tak’s script and closely references the original production, staged for the first time since 2003.
Praying to the Moon
A heart-stirring work about love in a time of war, Praying to the Moon is one of the all-time favourites of Cantonese opera. Adapted by Tong Tik-sang—generally held to be Cantonese opera’s greatest playwright—this full-length version will be presented in two parts by an impressive cast of young Cantonese opera stars, under the guidance of Cantonese opera veteran Sun Kim-long.
Performance Information
A Thorn Hairpin
Date: 4–5 November (Wed, Thu)
Time: 7:30pm
Venue: Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre
Performed in Cantonese with Chinese and English surtitles
Ticket price: $500, $380, $200
Tickets available at Xiqu Centre from 19 Oct 2020 onwards
westkowloon.hk | (852) 2200 0022 (10:00am–9:00pm daily)
For details: https://go.hkaf.org/11f9MG
Praying to the Moon
Date: 7 November (Sat)
Time: 2:30pm (Part I) | 7:30pm (Part II)
Venue: Ko Shan Theatre New Wing, Auditorium
Performed in Cantonese with Chinese and English surtitles
Ticket price for each performance: $260, $200, $140
Tickets available at URBTIX from 19 Oct 2020 onwards
urbtix.hk | (852) 2111 5999 (10:00am–8:00pm daily)
For details: https://go.hkaf.org/4WuFEU
About the Hong Kong Arts Festival
Launched in 1973, the Hong Kong Arts Festival is a major international arts festival committed to enriching the cultural life of the city. In February and March every year, the Festival presents leading local and international artists in all genres of the performing arts, placing equal importance on great traditions and contemporary creations. The Festival also commissions and produces work in theatre, music, chamber opera and contemporary dance by Hong Kong’s own creative talents and emerging artists, many of which have had successful subsequent runs in Hong Kong and overseas. The Festival also presents over 300 “PLUS” and educational activities that offer diverse arts experiences to the community as well as tertiary, secondary and primary school students. In addition, through the “No Limits” project co-presented with The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the Festival strives to create an inclusive space for people with different abilities to share the joy of the arts together.
For more information, please visit: www.hk.artsfestival.org .
Media EnquiriesProgramme images: https://go.hkaf.org/77SEtG
For press enquiries, please contact Ms Alexia Chow, Marketing Manager, at alexia.chow@hkaf.org or (852) 2828 4933.