China Everbright Limited Proudly Sponsors HU XUEYAN, MY DEAR

Hong Kong Repertory Theatre The late Qing merchant Hu Xueyan had incomparable experiences in his life. Apart from opening banks, trading in tea and silk, and offering free medicine to the poor, he was also the court-appointed Inspector of Zhejiang. How did he manage to dominate both the political and business worlds.

Outstanding playwright Paul Poon recreated his legendary life in Hu Xueyan, my Dear in its 2016 premiere production directed by Roy Szeto, setting an unprecedented record of 20 full-house performances. The production won the Hong Kong Drama Awards in six categories, including Best Overall Performance, Outstanding Production of the Year, Best Script and Best Actor (Tragedy/Drama), as well as Best Script and Best Director at the Shanghai One Drama Awards. This revival features a revised script, new cast members and design elements that will surely take the Chinese-language theatre scene by storm again. Hu Xueyan, My Dear's cast includes Poon Chan Leung in the title role, along with Lau Shau Ching, Mercy Wong, Lui Si Lan, Ko Hon Man, Yu Hon Ting, Yau Ting Fai and Eddy Au Yeung. This drama runs between 4th and 19th August at the Hong Kong Arts Centre Shouson Theatre. Tickets are available now from URBTIX outlets.

The story is about Hu Xueyan (played by Poon Chan Leung) experienced ups and downs in his life, his fate closely tied to the ebb and flow of the fortunes of the final decades of the Qing dynasty. Clairvoyant in observing trends and how best to utilize people around him, Hu transformed himself from a penniless lad to the nation's top merchant powerful enough to rival the court. Despite tumultuous times, he used his unique talents and financial resources to help Wang Youling and Zuo Zongtang to combat the Taiping rebels as well as Western powers. Equally comfortable among officials and traders, Hu was a man of ideals intent to challenge Westerners on political and business fronts, at the same time making generous donations to provide free medical care for the poor. In his mind, life was a never-ending game to catch.

Hu Xueyan's amazing vision and perception has long attracted the attention of playwright Paul Poon to bring that life to the stage. "I finished a draft of Hu Xueyan, my Dear as early as 1998. Preparing for this play, I searched all over and found all extant materials available about him. From all this information I created a story line, mixing reality with imagination. These days, few people are dreamers, even fewer are willing to follow their dreams, let alone those unwavering in pursuit of their dreams. I hope the character of Hu Xueyan I've created retains such charisma." This new version is tighter and even more focussed and refined. The narrative approach is also transformed, as dramatic characters themselves provide commentaries that traverse time and space.

To Director Roy Szeto, Hu Xueyan under Paul Poon's pen is amazingly intelligent yet wildly self-confident. The character almost could fit into our contemporary world. The underlying messages, then, are all the more intriguing. "Hu Xueyan dared to speak what others wouldn't dare. He also forged an unusual path for his life. Living amidst the tidal waves of history, he experienced the world's malice and bitterness. When human values are only measured by money, our sense of humanity is often abandoned. Can the suffering Chinese people really be saved this way? Is this a tragedy, an elegy, or a heartbreaking saga? Who can determine winners and losers?"

Artistic Director Anthony Chan states, "The wonder of Hu Xueyan, my Dear is that it contains both historical sensitivity and universal appeal! For many years, Hu Xueyan has been featured in various works in different media, yet Paul Poon has shown his creative resilience, connecting the life of a late Qing dynasty figure and the emotions of modern theatregoers. We can learn a lot from Hu's calm demeanour amidst turmoil, even his fearless and daring attitude."

After the Hong Kong production run, Hu Xueyan, my Dear will tour in mainland China, including such stops as:

August 24-25 at Opera Hall, Guangzhou Opera House

August 31- September 1 at Shenzhen Nanshan Wenti Centre Grand Theatre

September 7-9 at Theatre Above, Shanghai

September 14-15 at Tianjin GuangHua Theatre

September 21-23 at Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center Lyric Theatre

Playwright Paul Poon

Hong Kong citizen who teaches; he is also an amateur playwright.

Director Roy Szeto

Roy Szeto received an MFA in Directing from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts' School of Drama, where he currently serves as Associate Professor (Directing). Recent productions he's directed include Hu Xueyan, my Dear (HKREP), The Amahs (Hong Kong Arts Festival) and Twelfth Night (HKAPA), which won two awards-Best Ensemble Acting (Fusion) Award and Audience Award-at the Istropolitana International Drama Schools' Festival in Bratislava (2016). Szeto's 100th production-Hu Xueyan, my Dear-won him the Best Director award at the 2017 Shanghai Jing'an Modern Drama Valley One Drama Awards.

Currently the HKREP's Associate Director, Szeto served as the company's Resident Director between 2006 and 2012. Before joining the HKREP, he had directed the company's production of Xi Nai on Rock; he was also co-director with Fredric Mao of the 2004 black comedy A Small Family Business starring Anthony Wong. After joining the HKREP, Szeto directed such works as The Lost and Found Trilogy, Calling, the original musical Family Protection Unit, Moon over Buffalo, Beautiful Connection, Communicating Doors, Le Dieu du carnage, Shed Skin, Being Poon Chan Leung - Chanting in Silhouette, I Have a Date with Autumn and The Emperor, his Mom, a Eunuch and a Man, injecting contemporary energy and dynamism onto the stage.

Szeto has long been involved in popular large-scale productions in Hong Kong, among them Snow Wolf Lake, The Legend, Freemen Show 2, War of the Genders, Cheung Tat-Ming's One-Man Show 1 & 2, A Man & A Woman and Butterfly Lovers. In 2000, his 1941 Girl generated tremendous resonance within theatre circles.

Apart from directing, Szeto has also contributed multimedia creations for such recent blockbusters as Queer Show, Scrooge - the Musical (premiere production and 2011 revival) and Dr. Faustus. He was awarded (along with Leo Cheung and Billy Tang) Best Lighting Design at the 2011 Hong Kong Drama Awards for Dr. Faustus.

Szeto's HKREP productions have been honoured at the Hong Kong Drama Award, many selected among the Top Ten Most Popular Productions. He was awarded Best Director for Le Dieu du carnage (2011), Shed Skin (2012) and The Emperor, his Mom, a Eunuch and a Man (2014). Shed Skin, The Emperor, his Mom, a Eunuch and a Man and Hu Xueyan, my Dear also won Best Overall Production and other awards.

Guest Leading Cast Poon Chan Leung

Born and bred in Hong Kong, Poon Chan Leung graduated from the School of Drama, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, in 1991. For 21 years of his career, he was a full-time company member of the HKREP. Currently he is an Associate Actor with the company.

Poon's output includes productions on stage, television and film; he frequently collaborates with local and International Artists and directors. Among his recent productions are Project Roundabout's The Truth (as Michael), Wong Chau-wing in the Hong Kong Arts Festival's A Floating Family - A Trilogy, the title roles in Hu Xueyan, my Dear and The Professor, as well as Alan in Dionysus Contemporary Theatre's Le Dieu du carnage. Other major works with the HKREP include The Legend of the Mad Phoenix (in the role of Tong Tik-sang), A Dream Like a Dream, Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land, Black Elk Speaks, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, A Small Family Business, De Ling and Empress Dowager Ci Xi, Uncle Vanya, The Importance of Being Earnest, Art, Bun in a Cave, Communicating Doors, Dr. Faustus, Le Dieu du carnage, Shed Skin and Rabbit Hole,. He also appeared in the W Theatre Group's Shuraba and Yakusha Theatre's Into the Womb.

Poon is also a playwright and director. In 2010, An Ordinary Man was presented at Prospect Theatre's Playwright Scheme, a full production followed at the 39th Hong Kong Arts Festival in 2011, directed by Poon for a 23-show run. Other works include Crossings (playwright, director, actor) and Being Poon Chan Leung - Chanting in Silhouette (co-playwright, actor) and Boxer (director).

Most recently, Poon has devoted much of his energy to television and film. Memorable roles include Master Hill in HKTV's drama To Be or Not To Be and Chiu Tsz Lung in ViuTV's premiere drama series Margaret & David - Green Bean, which garnered much praise. Other television performances include HKTV's Doom+5's 'Resurrection' and The Election, episodes of RTHK's Under the Lion Rock in 2014 and 2015, and Fox Asia's The Trading Floor. His films include The Mad Phoenix, The Umbrella Story, Love Au Zen, Weeds on Fire, Pseudo Secular, The Moment and most recently, Men on the Dragon.

Poon has received numerous accolades, including 16 nominations in the Hong Kong Drama Awards, of which he won three Best Actor (Tragedy/Drama) awards for Rabbit Hole (2013), The Professor (2014) and Hu Xueyan, my Dear (2017). He also received three Best Supporting Actor awards in 1995, 2005 and 2011. Poon's portrayal of Tong Tik-sang in the film The Mad Phoenix (1997) won him nominations for Best Supporting Actor in both the 34th Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan and the 17th Hong Kong Film Awards. In 2005, Poon received the Lee Hysan Foundation Fellowship of the Asian Cultural Council to further his studies in New York. He was awarded Best Artist (Drama) by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council in 2012.

Apart from performing, Poon Chan Leung was a co-founder of Project Roundabout in 2017, a three-year project focusing on actors and their practice, with Louisa So and Harry Cheung.

China Everbright Limited Proudly Sponsors Hu Xueyan, my Dear

4#, 7-11, 14-18.8.2018

7:45pm

5+, 12, 19.8.2018

2:45pm

# The top-priced tickets are not available for public sales

^ With Post-performance talk

Hong Kong Arts Centre Shouson Theatre

$340 / $300 / $260 / $200

$310 / $280 / $240 / $180(Weekday Special?

Tickets available at URBTIX outlets

Title Sponsor for Hong Kong & Mainland Tour: China Everbright Limited

Media Sponsor: The "Star" Ferry

DISCOUNTS

• HKRep Pals enjoy 15% discount
• Half price tickets available for people with disabilities and the minder, senior citizens ages 60 or above and full-time students enrolled in a local educational institution. (Limited offer on a first-come-first-served basis)

Please visit www.hkrep.com for more information

Ticket enquiries and sales 3761 6661 / www.urbtix.hk
Programme enquiries 3103 5900 / www.hkrep.com

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