Star-crossed Lovers in the City of Lights: HK Ballet retelling Romeo and Juliet in 60s Hong Kong
發佈日期: 2025-10-17 19:53
TVB News
Shakespeare's timeless tale of love and loss -- Romeo and Juliet -- reimagined by Hong Kong Ballet this season with a distinctly local flavor.
Speaking with TVB News, the troupe underscores their vision to bring more Hong Kong-inspired productions to audiences worldwide.
Graced by the strains of composer Sergei Prokofiev's classic score, this modern version of Romeo and Juliet reinterpreted by Hong Kong Ballet -- comes alive against the nostalgic charm of 1960s Hong Kong in a world of neon lights and mahjong tables, featuring the city's bygone icons, including the Jumbo Seafood Restaurant in Aberdeen.
In a Hong Kong re-creation of this Shakespearean classic, Juliet's father is a formidable Shanghainese tycoon determined to marry his daughter to a wealthy foreigner -- unaware that she has already given her heart to the son of his greatest enemy.
The thrill of first love collides with the dangers of loyalty and betrayal -- presented by kung fu movements with balletic grace.
SEPTIME WEBRE, Artistic Director, HK Ballet: "The production adapted itself to the city very well. Lofuzi (Old Master Q) and mahjong games, and in particular, martial arts fights. Ballet was born in the West, but here in Hong Kong it becomes something wholly different, creating works that reflect this beautiful fusion."
The homecoming performances in October mark Hong Kong Ballet's second local staging of Webre's Romeo and Juliet, following performances in New York and North Carolina, as well as in Seoul last month as the opening programme of "Hong Kong Week 2025."
VANESSA LAI, Ballet Dancer: "I'm really proud to bring this ballet to overseas."
JEREMY CHAN, Ballet Dancer: "Playing mahjong on stage, that would never happen in a classical ballet production. For other audiences watching our production, they will be inspired and they will have a glimpse of what Hong Kong is like, and hopefully that will bring them interest into visiting Hong Kong."
HEIDI LEE, Executive Director, HK Ballet: "Because Hong Kong has been very popular in our film industry in the past, so our local culture, through film or TV dramas since 1980s, so we are very well received with a lot of positive response. Hong Kong Ballet is one of the most prominent cultural ambassadors of Hong Kong."
And the troupe hopes to continue performing at the Cultural Centre here in Tsim Sha Tsui to bring more Hong Kong-inspired pieces to audiences.
And when the curtain falls on Romeo and Juliet, Hong Kong Ballet's next act will be to channel the spirit of Hong Kong's cultural icon Bruce Lee, fusing kung fu and ballet in yet another unique blend of local identity and international appeal. The production is set to premiere in 2027 -- paying homage to not just the martial art legend, but also Hong Kong's fighting spirit.
