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The third experimental Cantonese opera production by the Xiqu Centre’s award-winning team, The Imperial Decree looks at how individual lives are shaped by predetermination and freewill.
When the imperial eunuch collapses after delivering just two words of the Emperor’s decree – “The throne” – a state of intrigue and infighting ensues, triggering a battle for the seat of power among the Emperor’s brother, Concubine Wen and Prince Dunhua as they struggle to determine the possible meaning behind the unspoken pronouncement.
Produced and directed by Naomi Chung, written, directed and performed by Keith Lai, Janet Wong, and Ng Lap-hei – the award-winning creative team behind Experimental Cantonese Opera Farewell My Concubine (New Adaptation) and Wenguang Explores the Valley – The Imperial Decree combines traditional performance techniques with contemporary music and stage design.
The Imperial Decree marks the Xiqu Centre’s first cooperation with the Deaf community, and features Deaf artist Jason Wong among the cast and theatrical interpretation at each performance.
Title Sponsor:
Produced by:
Artistic and Production Team:
Producer / Director: Naomi Chung*
Playwrights / Directors / Music Arrangers: Keith Lai, Janet Wong
Technical Director: Rae Wu*
Set Designer: Wong Yat-kwan
Lighting Designer: Leo Siu
Sound Designer: Wan San-hong
Video Designer: Dan Fong
Assistant Producer: Peter Lee*
Production Managers: Fanny Lo*, Katrina Chan*
Producer’s assistants: Novia Chong*, Hazel Yau*
Cast:
Keith Lai as Emperor’s brother Wu
Janet Wong as Concubine Wen
Ng Lap-hei as Prince Dunhua
Shum Pak-chuen as Rongqian
Jason Wong as Rongfu
Musicians:
Ensemble Leader: Mao Yijun
Percussion Ensemble Leader: Chan Ting-pong
Musicians: (In alphabetical order): Chen Yifan, He Zhuotao, Ho Cheuk-chun, Lai Ka-wai, Leung Shuk-in, Ko Wing-hei, So Siu-fun, Wong Yuen-ling, Zhong Shi-ling
*Staff of West Kowloon Cultural District
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Following Farewell My Concubine (New Adaptation) and Wenguang Explores the Valley, The Imperial Decree is the Xiqu Centre’s third experimental Cantonese opera production.
Unlike its two predecessors, which were inspired by historical events and existing plays, The Imperial Decree features an original story. Through a plot pregnant with intrigue, twists and clashing personalities, it explores the existence of fate and freewill.
The production employs a series of artistic and technological innovations that transform the viewer experience on several levels. It breaks away from the traditional Cantonese opera storytelling format, and combines classical performance techniques with contemporary music and dance. Meanwhile, modern technological installations bring to the stage another dimension of reality where space and time can shift in an instant. Video, lighting and sound effects, along with the set design, come together to vividly illustrate the interiors of the characters, creating a Cantonese opera experience that’s entirely refreshing and unique.
In addition, for the Xiqu Centre’s first inclusive production, we were committed to upholding the spirit of inclusivity throughout the writing and making of the show and providing the space for artists with different abilities to showcase their immense talent. In the end, it gave The Imperial Decree all the more depth and heart. We hope that by working with differently-abled people, we can strengthen the connections between the public, Cantonese opera culture and our communities, and promote diversity and inclusion through the beauty of Cantonese opera.
Cantonese Opera
Originating in the Guangzhou region of southern China, Cantonese opera is a genre of Chinese traditional theatre that is popular in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong and Macau, as well as the Chinese diaspora in Southeast Asia, America and Europe. The singing style adopts elements of bangzi and erhuang (traditional vocal and phrasing styles), and combines tunes of various origins, including set tunes from gaoqiang (high-pitched) and Kunqu genres and elements of folk narrative singing. Cantonese opera was inscribed onto the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009.