Community Oral History Theatre Project to be launched in Sai Kung District in mid-July

     The Community Oral History Theatre Project – Sai Kung District co-organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), Chung Ying Theatre Company, Caritas Hong Kong and the Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council (NAAC) will be launched in mid-July, beginning with an oral history theatre demonstration performance and sharing session at 3pm on July 19 (Thursday) at Hang Hau Community Hall. The opening event aims to introduce oral history theatre to senior citizens and other residents in Sai Kung District and attract the elderly to join the project. Admission is free with tickets.
 
     During the demonstration performance, an excerpt of a drama production entitled "A Tale of Two Circles" (in Cantonese) will be performed. Featuring the development of the Central and Western districts, the show will be performed by elderly participants of the Community Oral History Theatre Project – Central and Western District. The performers will share stories of their past life in the districts during the show, and in the sharing session they will discuss their joy in joining the project.
 
     Free tickets with free seating will be distributed from today (June 19) with a maximum of four tickets per person at the following locations on a first-come, first-served basis:
 
* Caritas Elderly Centre – Sai Kung (G/F, 69-73 Man Nin Street, Sai Kung);
* Sai Kung Home Affairs Enquiry Centre (G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex, 38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O);
* Nga Yin Association Neighbourhood Elderly Centre, NAAC (1/F, Lung Cheung Garden, 26 Praya, Kennedy Town);
* Enquiry Counter, Hong Kong Cultural Centre (10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui); and
* Enquiry Counter, Hong Kong City Hall Low Block (5 Edinburgh Place, Central).
 
     Elderly residents of Sai Kung District who are interested in participating in the coming project can complete and return the application form on-site after the demonstration performance. The application form can also be downloaded from the website of the Audience Building Office of the LCSD (www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/ab/img/pdf/application%20form_saikung.pdf). Completed forms should reach the Office by fax or by post on or before August 17 (Friday). If the number of applications exceeds the quota, auditions will be arranged to select suitable candidates.
 
     Since its launch in 2009, the Community Oral History Theatre Project has been implemented in several districts, namely Sham Shui Po District, Kwun Tong District, Islands District (Tai O), Eastern District and Sha Tin District, and it is now being run in Central and Western District. A series of workshops offering drama training to elderly participants will be arranged and their personal experiences and recollections in the district will be compiled and developed into plays, providing an opportunity for the elderly to recount their stories onstage. In addition, the younger generation may understand the days of previous generations and reflect on their own lives.
 
     Hang Hau Community Hall is located at G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex, 38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O. For enquiries, please call 2591 1300 (LCSD), 8106 8336 (Chung Ying Theatre Company), 2792 6205 (Caritas Hong Kong) or 2819 8727 (NAAC), or visit
www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/ab/en/OH_details_saikung.php.