Hong Kong Theatre Libre winner for Best Actor - Invisible Men
Critically acclaimed at its premiere
Hong Kong Theatre Libre winner for Best Actor
Invisible Men
A chance encounter in a lift sheds light on opposite philosophies of life
【HKRep】As we hustle about our daily lives, do we ever pay attention to people who cross our path? Invisible Men, which premiered at the HKRep Black Box Theatre in 2015, chronicles an encounter of two men trapped in a lift, providing the audience much room for thought on how people eke out a living in society’s margins. The play was nominated for Best Script at the 8th Hong Kong Theatre Libre and Adam Tang Yu Ting (as Sung Shui) won Best Actor that year. Written by Chan Siu Tung and directed by Chan Wing Chuen, Invisible Men features Eddy Au Yeung, Adam Tang Yu Ting (● cast), Chan Kiu (▲ cast), Ng Ka Leung, Tunes Ting, Trickle Choi and Kalok Chan. This production runs from October 16th through 24th at the Hong Kong Arts Centre Shouson Theatre. Tickets are available now from URBTIX outlets.
In Invisible Men, a bottled-water deliveryman (Sung Shui) and courier (Shun Fung) find themselves trapped in a lift. Shun Fung longs for a short respite from work, while Sung Shui wishes to be rescued as soon as possible and finish his job. In this long night, the two men while away their boredom, coming face to face with opposite philosophies of life. Do they have the right to choose? Are we even aware of them as we rush about our daily lives?
HKRep Artistic Director Anthony Chan recognizes the fine qualities in this play: “Invisible Men centres around two deliverymen, adding a fresh and interesting perspective on character-types. The playwright is sensitive in portraying the labourers who brush past us daily, offering us a glimpse into the resentment and sense of helplessness of the grassroots in Hong Kong society. As I have often mentioned, many of our younger generation of playwrights care strongly about society. Chan Siu Tung’s script about deliverymen trapped in a lift is a metaphor for Hong Kong’s young generation unable to find their way forward: one can survive, but what does it mean to live? Invisible Men makes us ponder Hong Kong society today—a setting that’s almost akin to a city of sadness!”
Playwright Chan Siu Tung recalls the impetus for this script: “I was once trapped in a lift with two deliverymen, just like what happens in the play. As they debated who should press the alarm bell they completely ignored me. I was rendered invisible. Do I ‘count’? This is what prompted me to write Invisible Men. This has been a six-year journey, from first draft to landing on the HKRep Main Stage. Before every run of this play, I would review the script to retool materials that might have lost their relevance. But this time, the process was far more difficult and complex. Reality inspires me, but I feel conflicted with a reality I do not wish for. In this version, the crux of the matter becomes even clearer. It is ‘the very being of Hong Kong’.”
About Playwright Chan Siu Tung
Chan Siu Tung graduated from the School of Drama of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) majoring in acting. He is currently pursuing a career as an actor and playwright. While at the HKAPA, he was awarded numerous accolades, including the Society of APA Scholarship, Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation Scholarship, Hongkong Bank Foundation – HSBC Mainland Scholarships for Hong Kong Students, Disney Scholarship and Outstanding Performance Award. In 2015, Chan was a member of the HKRep’s Playwright’s Lab. Two years later, he received a scholarship from the Dionysus Contemporary Theatre to attend its Master Class with Philippe Gaulier. Chan’s most recent stage appearance was in Artocrite Theater’s Eve.
His scripts include those presented in the Playwright Scheme V, VI, VIII and IX by Prospects Theatre (Acting Family, International School, Sperm Hero and Made in Hong Kong), A Night in the Triad Family, several musicals for RTHK, Useless, My Dream Home Gone, Invisible Men and Let’s Hunt for a “Tiger” Tonight. He has also adapted and dramaturged Laboratory of Lungg and Sad but True.
Chan won Best Script at the 6th Hong Kong Theatre Libre for Useless. The following two years, he was nominated under the same category at the Hong Kong Theatre Libre, for My Dream Home Gone and Invisible Men respectively.
About Director Chan Wing Chuen
Artistic Director of POP Theatre, Chan Wing Chuen graduated in the inaugural class of the School of Drama, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, majoring in acting, and received a scholarship from the Hong Kong Arts Development Council to further his studies at the École Philippe Gaulier in France. In 2018, he won Best Supporting Actor (Comedy/Farce) at the Hong Kong Drama Awards for his role in The Truth. At the same awards in 2015, he won Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor (Tragedy/Drama) for Wild Boar and Hedda Gabler respectively. As early as 2001, Chan was recognized at the Hong Kong Drama Awards as an Outstanding Young Actor. He has served as drama instructor at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Baptist University.
He has directed many productions at POP Theatre, most recently Puppy Poppy (for the WeWeWebWeb Carnival), Still Close to You (Zen Theatre), Catching Light (Sensory Play Show); Children’s Theatre productions Susumu’s Story, Peacemaker and Solomon and the Big Cat, Whale; musicals The Writing Adventure of Bui Bui, The Devoted Friend, The Selfish Giant; Romeo & Juliet with Red Noses (for the International Arts Carnival) and A Bright Dark Night (for the Taiwan Chinese Original Musical Theatre Festival).
He also directs productions for other companies: Eight Hundred Years of Hatred, Eight Hundred Years of Healing and Title of Show for Artpeak; Departure 00:00 and Invisible Men for HKRep.
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