A Man of the Stage

     There is nothing more fascinating than devoting one's life to his favorite activity.

     Mr. James Mark, 63, better known as Mr. Mak Chau, has devoted 42 years to the production of local plays.

     For him, drama is a purifier, which strengthens him spiritually and enables him to honour the goodwill of Jesus Christ.

     Drama is also a powerful medium for him to mirror others' sufferings, praise people's dignities and express his concerns for the less fortunate.

     In 1957, he completed his first script based on the real stories of refugees from China.

     The drama, which was staged at St. Teresa Chruch that year, gained great popularity.

     Upon his graduation from a local Catholic secondary school, he took a one-year full time acting course carried out by the Shaw Brothers.

     However, he had no intention of becoming a movie actor.

     Said he: "The schedule of a movie actor is very tight. Moreover, I don't want to use eye drops as artificial tears."

     As Mr. James Mark insisted to act "truthfully", he didn't sign the contract with the Shaw Brothers Production Company Limited, but continued to produce plays for the Church and local theatres.

     Besides being a freelance writer of performing arts, he has been a social worker for about fifteen years.

     "My experience as a social worker gives me a deeper insight into peoples' lives, which help me create my plays," he said.

     Over the past 42 years, Mr. James Mark has set up five theatres and has produced more than 100 local plays.

     Mr. James Mark is an all-rounder in performing arts. He has been an actor, director and playwright, lighting designer, stage manager and technical consultant over the past years.

     Said he: "I like acting most because I can make a particular character alive through deep understanding of his characteristics.

     "Above all, playing a character reminds me how to be a good person in real life."

     Drama production sharpens his communication techniques, gains him a lot of friends, and keeps him physically fit and young at heart.

     However, drama also brings him tons of worries and unpredictable challenges.

     In 1987, Mr. James Mark established the High Noon Production Company Limited, hoping to create a better environment for the development of local performing arts.

     He invested almost all his money in the company, but it ran into financial difficulties four years later.

     "I was very busy producing plays as I was the artistic director. I had no concern for money at that time."

     Mr. James Mark said that this was the typical fate of most local theatres in Hong Kong.

     Many local theatres do not receive financial support from the government. Therefore, they cannot compete with those theatres administrated by the government.

     High Noon Production Company closed down in 1997.

     Although he has gone through tremendous difficulties, he does not regard his life as a dramatic one.

     "Whenever the production of a play gives me great anxiety, I pray to God.

     "Hardship does not scare me. In fact, it strengthens me," he said.

     Over the past few decades, Mr. James Mark has served as a catalyst to arouse wider public interests in performing arts.

     Moreover, he has been the consultant of drama societies at many local universities and the organizer of various workshops in youth and elderly centres.

     Some people think he is foolish because it is not worth sacrificing so much for drama.

     However, luxuries and fame are not his main concerns.

     "What I consider most is people. If I think something is beneficial to people, I will go ahead and do it," he said.

     In September this year, Mr. James Mark will conduct a half-year acting course through the Caritas Adult and Higher Education Service.

     He wants to recruit those who lack self-confidence and proper communication skills.

     The idea came to him when he watched the television programs interviewing the Form five graduates last year.

     He found them having no way out.

     Therefore, he prayed to God and came up with the idea.

     "Anyone has his or her own limitations on stage. What I hope to do is to help them better present themselves."

     He thinks everyone should have opportunities to maximize their potential.

     "I am lucky because I can make full use of my abilities and devote myself to the art of plays," Mr. James Mark said.

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