Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
pop golden age came with the advent of the so-called Four Kings: thespian/singer Andy
Lau, Mr Nice Guy Jacky Cheung, dancer-turned-crooner Aaron Kwok and teen heart-throb
Leon Lai.
It never quite reached that altitude again. Subsequent arrivals such as Bĕijīng waif Faye
Wong, Sammi Cheung, Kelly Chen and proto-hunk Nicholas Tse took their turns on the
throne for a time. But today most stars are a packaged phenomenon. Singers from the main-
land and Taiwan - singer/songwriter Jay Chou is one example - are competing with local
stars and gaining new fans here, and the strongest influences on local music are now coming
from Japan and Korea. There are also acts making their marks from the edge of the main-
stream, such as Ellen Lo and Eman Lam, two 'urban folk' singer-songwriters, and My Little
Airport, a dapper act whose irreverent multilingual lyrics are often speckled with cute
Chinglish.
Originally designed for sports events, the Hong Kong Coliseum in Hung Hom is the prime
venue for Canto-pop concerts. In the past, only the superstars could perform here, but
now practically anyone with a bit of fame in the local entertainment industry can come
and throw a bash.
Theatre
Much, though not all, theatre in Hong Kong is Western in form, if not content. Traditional
Chinese theatre can still be experienced, but Western theatre has been very influential. Most
productions are staged in Cantonese, and a large number are new plays by Hong Kong
writers. The fully professional Hong Kong Repertory Theatre ( www.hkrep.com ) and
Chung Ying Theatre Company ( www.chungying.com ) put on Cantonese productions, very
often with English titles. Theatre du Pif ( www.thtdupif.com ) , formed by a professional
Scottish-Chinese couple, puts on innovative works incorporating text, movement and visu-
als, in English and/or Cantonese. Hong Kong Players ( www.hongkongplayers.com ) , con-
sisting of expatriate amateurs, mounts classical and modern productions in English, while
Zuni Icosahedron ( www.zuni.org.hk ) creates conceptual multimedia works known for their
experimental format.
Among the more popular venues are the Fringe Club theatres in Central. The Hong Kong
Cultural Centre, Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts, Hong Kong City Hall and
the Hong Kong Arts Centre all host foreign productions, ranging from large-scale Western
musicals to minimalist Japanese theatre.
 
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