23
Thu
Sep 2023

14:00

|
08
Sun
Oct 2023

19:15

$180, 140

Bamboo Theatre at Victoria Park Soccer Pitch no.3
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Chinese Opera

Chinese Opera Festival 2023: Bless This Land - Cantonese Opera Showcase under the Bamboo Theatre at Victoria Park

Programme IntroductionThe Chinese Artists Association of Hong KongDragon and Phoenix Cantonese Opera TroupeSpring Glory Cantonese Opera WorkshopGolden Dragon TroupeTicketingEnquiries

Performing groups: The Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong, Dragon and Phoenix Cantonese Opera Troupe, Spring Glory Cantonese Opera Workshop, Golden Dragon Troupe

The development of Chinese theatre venues is closely linked to folk practices in everyday life, highlights traditional Chinese culture and folk wisdom.  Research shows that as early as the Sui Dynasty (581 – 619), bamboo structures were erected in the capital for theatrical performances.  They were commonly seen in southern China, with contents that retained the characteristics and styles of baixi (literally ‘hundred types of theatre’) shows in the Han and Tang dynasties.  They embodied the strong vitality of folk theatre culture.  In earlier days, when the suburban areas of Hong Kong were still full of large patches of open spaces, it was common for villages and fishing communities to erect temporary structures for theatrical performances to celebrate festivals and birthdays of deities.  During the 1960’s, when urban development took off, bamboo theatres could be found in urban areas to serve as performance venues, and they became a unique spectacle of local culture.

The Chinese title for this activity is a famous line by Lu You (1125 - 1210), a poet of renown in the Song dynasty.  He wrote about a prosperous era when people lived well, cultural activities thrived, and performance venues could be found everywhere.  The vision fits in well with the format of this Cantonese Opera bamboo-theatre showcase, as it wraps up Chinese Opera Festival 2023 under an iconic Hong Kong bamboo theatre, carrying with it well wishes for peace, prosperity, celebration and joy for Hong Kong.