Founded in 1986, Jingkun Theatre (JK) devoted itself in the development and art education of Kunqu and Jingju ( Peking Opera ). Its major works include putting on productions / performances, conducting demonstration lectures, seminar, courses and workshops etc.
Followings are some of our important accomplishments :
(I)
Representing Hong Kong in various International / National Arts Festival
In 2001, featured in the 3rd National Peking Opera Festival with its new production, The Return of the Condor Heroes. Tang Yuen-ha, the Artistic Director of JK, won the Award of Oustanding Performance
In 2006, featured in the 3rd National Kunqu Arts Festival and gave an “exhibition performance” of JK’s version fo Wusong and Pan Jinlian
In 2007, representing Hong Kong and the genre “Peking Opera” in the 3rd Paris Festival of Traditional Chinese Opera ( co-organised by the Centre Culturel de Chine and The French Ministry of Culture ), JK was awarded the Prix Special du Jury ( Special Jury Prize ) for its excellent performance of The House of Wulong. Mr. Geng Tianyuan, Director and Principal Actor, won the Award for Best Actor
In 2008, JK was invited to feature in the 10th Shanghai International Arts Festival with The House of Wulong as well as other excerpts from The Peony Pavilion and The Story of The Stone.
(II)
Cultural Exchange Activities:
In 2006, JK was invited to give demonstration lectures on Kunqu and to conduct workshops in University of London, University of York and Centre for Performance Research ( University of Wales )
In September 2007, JK co-organised a two-week programme on “Appreciation of Kunqu and Peking Opera” ( including demonstration lectures, workshops, and performances ) with the Australian National University
In October 2008, JK organized a seminar on “Communication between Chinese and Western Culture” . Honorable guest speakers were Professor John Minford and Professor Geremie Barmé from Australian National University, and Professor Pei-kai Cheng, Director of the Chinese Civilization Centre, City University of Hong Kong
(III)
Major productions and performances
1997
The Scent of China － performed on 2nd and 3rd July, in celebration of the Reunification of Hong Kong to China ( Sole sponsorship by Hermès )
Peking Opera Concert － showcased the various vocal styles and traced the development of Peking Opera in the last one hundred years
Hong Kong Chinese Opera Festival－ "The White Snake Legend”, ( quadrual-formal :Kunqu, Jingju, Chunju and Wuju )
1998
Appreciation of Famous Extracts from Kunqu and Peking Opera
1999
The Great Belfrey ( based on Victor Hugo’s Notre Dame de Paris )
2000
International Arts Carnival – A Showcase of Children Peking Opera Performance
2001
The Return of the Condor Heroes ( based on the novel by Louis Cha, also Artistic Adviser of the production )
2002、2003
The Northern & Southern Kunqu Virtuosi Showcase
2004
Kunqu, Wu Song and Pan Jinlian (Re-run )
2006
Classics Revisited – The White Snake Legend
and a showcase of Modern and Traditional Peking Opera Extracts
2008
The House Wulong, and You Sanjie.
– The Exquisite Charm of Kunqu and Peking Opera －
The House Wulong ( Re-run ) and other excerpts from The Peony Pavilion and You Sanjie
(IV)
Education to Schools
JK regularly conducts demonstration lectures and performances in primary / secondary schools and tertiary institutions in Hong Kong
In 2000, JK pioneered a programme named “Learning Mandarin through Peking Opera – Chinese Idioms Series”. Such programme were widely promoted among primary schools and were invited to demonstrated in the Education Expo 2002 (organized by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council) and Projects Expo 2005 (Organised by the Quality Education Fund).
(V)
Art Education in Communities
1998 Arts-in-Residence Scheme ( Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre )
2002 Arts-in-Residence Scheme ( Tuen Wan Town Hall )
2004 Arts-in-Residence Scheme ( Ko Shan Theatre )
2005 Arts-in-Residence Scheme ( Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre )
