Page 32 - 152 Varsity Ebook

30 / LIFESTYLE

Sunbeam Theatre in North Point

sites which are much cheaper to rent. government may give priorities to fa- ment policies, but
While major performance sites are of- mous Cantonese opera troupes to use not all activities
ten reserved by big opera associations, performance sites at the Xiqu Cen- from the crea-
local small troupes can only turn to tre, so it may not be available for the tive industry are
sites they can afford. small-scale ones. Also, the expensive supported by the
“It is difficult for us to set the stage rent may not be affordable for them. government,” she
or carry performance props,” she says. “Having one more performance says. Lau thinks it
Li shares their experience of using site is better than one less,” says Lau is inappropriate for Lau Wai-ming
Youth Square in Chai Wan, which Wai-ming, Artistic Director of Yeung arts association to
turns out to be an unsuitable site, as Ming Cantonese Opera Troupe. She change their principles in a bid to re-
it is not specially built for performing believes the opening of Xiqu Centre ceive government support.
Cantonese opera. is good news for Cantonese Opera. Lau also points out the current
Officially opened on January 20, While she appreciates that the govern- policies tend to favour younger art-
2019, Xiqu Centre, is the first com- ment has put effort into the Xiqu Cen- ists, which could drive current art-
pleted project of the West Kowloon tre, she believes another challenge is
Cultural District and the first profes- that there are not many performance
sional Cantonese opera performance sites specifically designed for Canton-
centre in Hong Kong. Occupying a to- ese opera.
tal of 28,164 square metres, the Xiqu Having one more
Centre holds a Grand Theatre, a Tea Who can help?
House Theatre, eight professional stu- Other than shortage of perfor- performance site is
dios and a seminar hall. They are all mance sites, Lau believes the devel-
specially designed for different types opment of Cantonese opera is not on better than one less
of functions and activities related to the right track. “We are now develop-
Chinese opera. ing arts with government resources
But some insiders reflect that the and we have to comply with govern-