LCSD’s Cantonese Opera Day 2024 held smoothly at Ko Shan Theatre today (with photos)

     The 22nd Cantonese Opera Day, presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), was held smoothly this afternoon (November 24) at the Ko Shan Theatre and its New Wing for the first time. Under the theme "Fun with Cantonese Opera, Joy at Ko Shan Theatre", the event featured a wide array of exciting free activities, attracting about 10 000 visitors. The event is one of the programmes of the 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival.
 
　　This year's Cantonese Opera Day had invited talented child and young performers from local Cantonese opera groups to stage a number of familiar excerpts, such as "The Monkey King's Tricks to Borrow the Iron Fan" from "Journey to the West", "A Letter of Request" from "The Story of the West Chamber", "Outcry in Governor Mei's Office" and "The Chance Meeting When Plucking the Plum Blossoms" from "The Reincarnation of The Red Plum", which won rounds of applause from the audiences. Winners of this year's Hong Kong Schools Music Festival Cantonese Opera Competition and young Cantonese opera students performed memorable pieces, including "The Warrior's Marriage", "A Fine Moonlit Night" from "Liu Yi and the Dragon Princess", "The Guessing Game" from "Di Qing's Three Campaigns", "Chastising the Princess" and more, and shared with the audiences about their experience in learning Cantonese opera.
 
　　The "Cantonese Opera Trial Performance Playground", a newly introduced parent-child activity this year, attracted many parents and children to collaborate in performing a short segment of the Cantonese opera, "Wandering in the Garden and Waking from a Dream", from "The Peony Pavilion" under the guidance of a Cantonese opera instructor, enabling them to taste the joy of acting. A number of Cantonese opera game booths, including a Cantonese opera quiz competition, a handicraft production of paper puppetry, costume bookmarks and miniature masks were set up at the venue for visitors of all ages to experience the culture of Cantonese opera amid the fun-filled atmosphere.
 
　　The popular "Autograph Session" returned this year, and attracted many opera fans to meet with Cantonese opera virtuosos including Loong Koon-tin, Tang Mi-ling, Wan Fai-yin, Lau Wai-ming, Leung Siu-ming and Cheng Wing-mui. To enable participants to learn more about Cantonese opera, a world intangible cultural heritage item, from multiple perspectives, this year's Cantonese Opera Day also featured various demonstration sessions and talks. In the "Workshop on Stylised Movements & Postures of Cantonese Opera", tutors demonstrated and taught the skills of twirling a horse-whip and fighting with swords and spears, while the Cantonese opera make-up and dress-up demonstrations as well as talks on Cantonese opera culture and behind-the-scenes happenings also attracted many audiences.
 
　　The "Cantonese Opera Art Exhibition", co-ordinated by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, was held at the Exhibition Gallery of the Ko Shan Theatre New Wing. The exhibition introduced to visitors the past and present of Cantonese opera culture. Two guided tours of the Cantonese Education and Information Centre were also arranged, offering participants extensive information about Cantonese opera.
 
　　In support of the Cantonese Opera Day 2024, the "Your Memories with the Timeless Theatre" interactive exhibition, organised by the Yau Ma Tei Theatre of the LCSD, is being held at the Red Brick Building to enhance public interest in and understanding of the art of Cantonese opera.
 
　　Hong Kong is the host city of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival for the first time. It is organising and co-ordinating over 260 performances and exchange activities to be held across the "9+2" cities of the Greater Bay Area. The festival aims to showcase the vibrant and diverse cultural richness of the region and foster cultural exchanges and co-operation among the cities. For detailed information about the festival, please visit www.gbacxlo.gov.hk.