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Drama group Zuni Icosahedron will perform the multi-level stage experiment "The Outcast General" next month (June). The show is presented by Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
"The Outcast General" is written and directed by Danny Yung, artistic director of Zuni. This is the third run in the past two years. National first class performer Shan Xiaoming is invited to present the show.
Outcast General II is the third interpretation of the same title. The work is part of Zuni's series on Experimenting China Performing Programme. Adapted from same title of Chinese opera classic, "The Outcast General" is Zuni's cutting edge stage work commenting on the avant-garde as well as on traditional theatre forms. The cross-disciplines cross-cultural experimentation is a collaborative effort of artists from Hong Kong, Nanjing and Beijing. The portraits of Southern Song Dynasty General Gao Chong and of the traditional performing artist of today are juxtaposed and cross-examined on the red carpet against different cultural backdrops.
The story is set in 10th century Southern Song Dynasty. The protagonist Gao Chong is a headstrong young general. "The Outcast General" depicts Gao's tragedy at the Cattlehead Battleground. As the story goes, in a decisive battle against the Jin army, Gao Chong was ordered by his commander Yue Fei to perform a minor task of protecting the army banner. Furious with such assignment, Gao Chong defied the order, marched into the battleground, and was ambushed by the Jin army.
Danny Yung will utilise different lighting technologies, such as Shadow Puppetry and video art as a stage language.And he will choose the cross-cultural classical music compositions, from the recently unearthed Tang dynasty music to Beethoven, and Peking opera percussion music etc, to uncover the deep structure of traditional operatic pantomime.
"The Outcast General" will be staged at 8pm, on June 7 and 8, (Wednesday and Thursday) at the Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets priced at $160 are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price tickets are available for senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistant (CSSA) recipients (limited tickets for students and CSSA recipients are available on a first-come, first-served basis). Please see the group booking discount scheme in the programme leaflet.
For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7323 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp. For reservations, please call 2734-9009. For credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. To book online, please visit, www.urbtix.hk.
Ends/Monday, May 8, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:07
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