"Cyrano de Bergerac" - A Cantonese Opera Interpretation to be staged at inaugural Chinese Culture Festival in June

Romantic tale reimagined: cantonese opera adaptation of cyrano de bergerac set to debut at chinese culture festival

The inaugural Chinese Culture Festival (CCF), organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), will stagethree performances of "Cyrano de Bergerac" - A Cantonese Opera Interpretation in mid-June. This play is an adaptation of a French classic piece of the same title. Cantonese opera virtuoso Law Ka-ying - playwright, director and actor all rolled into one - will partner with famous veterans Liza Wang and Sun Kim Long to present this romantic story of a love triangle. This production is a contemporary work developed with traditional Cantonese opera form, showcasing Hong Kong's strength to serve an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. This new opera is also the opening programme of the 12th Chinese Opera Festival and one of the highlights of the 35th anniversary of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

"Cyrano de Bergerac" - A Cantonese Opera Interpretation is a play developed by Law over a decade. The story has been transposed from the French battlefield in the original play to Tumu Crisis in the Ming dynasty. The strong cast will delicately interpret the political disputes within the story as well as the complex emotions of love and friendship, through close-knit scenes. This adaptation exhibits an exquisite combination of the plot and musical elements of Western drama while preserving the performing techniques, traditional forms and artistic charm of Cantonese opera. It serves as a demonstration of the eclecticism of the art form, contributing to the promotion of the creative transformation and development of fine traditional Chinese culture.

The play tells the story ofZhu Bufan, a captain of the noble guard, and his best friend Zhu Yihao, both falling in love with Princess Xu Qishan. Bufan, embarrassed by his large nose, hesitates to confess his love to Qishan, while Yihao, though handsome, is naturally shy and lacks the courage to approach the princess. Bufan then offers to write love letters in Yihao's name, conveying his own heartfelt feelings to Qishan through these letters. Later, Yihao dies in a battle. Qishan goes to a convent for retreat and Bufan regularly visits her. During one visit, Qishan asks the wounded Bufan to read out Yihao's love letters and discovers that he can recite those letters. She finally recognises the true heart behind the writings by Bufan.

The "Cyrano de Bergerac" - A Cantonese Opera Interpretation will be held at 7.30pm on June 14 and 15, 2024 (Friday and Saturday), and at 2.30pm on June 16 (Sunday) at the Grand Theatre of Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets priced at $220, $320, $420 and $520 is now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) and the Xiqu Centre Ticket Office. For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7325 or visit www.ccf.gov.hk/en/programme/chinese-opera-festival-2024-cyrano-de-bergerac-a-cantonese-opera-interpretation.

The programme offers a pre-performance talk and a post-performance talk in Cantonese. The pre-performance talk will be held at 7.30pm on June 3 (Monday) at AC2, 4/F, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The speakers include Law and Wang. Admission is free with limited seats available on a first-come, first-served basis. Online registration is required (www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/chinese_opera/programs_1716.html#tab_13_0). The post-performance talk will be held after the performance on June 16 (Sunday). The speakers are Law, Wang and Sun. Members of the audience are welcome to stay behind to join.

The CCF, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the LCSD's Chinese Culture Promotion Office, aims to enhance the public's appreciation of Chinese culture and cultivate citizens' national identity and cultural confidence. The inaugural CCF will be held from June to September. Through different performing arts programmes in various forms and related extension activities, including selected programmes of the Chinese Opera Festival, exemplary local arts projects recognised by the China National Arts Fund, performing arts programmes from arts and cultural organisations, film screenings, exhibitions, talks and more, the festival allows members of the public and visitors to experience the broad and profound Chinese culture with a view to promoting Chinese culture and patriotic education as well as enhancing national identity among the people of Hong Kong, making contributions to the steadfast and successful implementation of "one country, two systems". For details, please visit the CCF website www.ccf.gov.hk.

The LCSD has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about the broad and profound Chinese culture. For more information, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ccpo/index.html.

"Cyrano de Bergerac" - A Cantonese Opera Interpretation to be staged at inaugural Chinese Culture Festival in June Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Cyrano de Bergerac" - A Cantonese Opera Interpretation to be staged at inaugural Chinese Culture Festival in June Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Cyrano de Bergerac" - A Cantonese Opera Interpretation to be staged at inaugural Chinese Culture Festival in June Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Cyrano de Bergerac" - A Cantonese Opera Interpretation to be staged at inaugural Chinese Culture Festival in June Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Employers, contractors and employees should be aware of electrical safety at work during rainstorm

As the rainstorm warning has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and contractors that they should adopt necessary work arrangements and take suitable safety measures to protect the safety of their employees when they are carrying out electrical work or handling electrical plant.

A spokesman for the LD said today (July 27) that employers and contractors should avoid assigning employees to carry out electrical work (like electric arc welding work) or handle electrical plant at places affected by rainstorms, and should refer to the "Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and 'Extreme Conditions'" and the "Guide on Safety at Work in times of Inclement Weather" issued by the LD.

Even if electrical work is carried out or electrical plant is handled at places not affected by the rainstorm, suitable safety measures must still be adopted to prevent electric shock as the air would be more humid. Such measures include:

(i) Ensure that all live parts of an electrical installation are isolated from the power supply source and rendered dead, and the isolation from the power supply source must be maintained as long as electrical work is being carried out;

(ii) Before carrying out any electrical work or handling any electrical plant, cut off and lock out the power supply source, then test the circuit concerned to confirm it is dead and display suitable warning notices, and issue a work permit thereafter;

(iii) Ensure that protective devices (such as suitable and adequate fuses and circuit breakers) for the electrical installations or electrical plant have been installed and maintained in good working order, and portable electric tools must be double-insulated or properly earthed;

(iv) Provide suitable personal protective equipment such as insulating gloves and insulating mats for employees; and

(v) If live electrical work is unavoidable, a comprehensive risk assessment should be conducted by a competent person and the appropriate safety precautions should be taken to remove or properly control the electrical hazards involved before such work can proceed.

In addition, employees should co-operate with the employer or contractor to follow the safety instructions and use the safety equipment provided.

The LD has published guidebooks and leaflets on electrical work safety. These safety publications are available free from divisional offices of the department or can be downloaded from its website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8.htm).

Should there be any questions about occupational safety and health matters, please contact the Occupational Safety Officer of the LD at 2559 2297.

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