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Q&A: Jim Chim

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Jim Chim Sui-man has brought his satirical comedy into the mainstream. A founder of Theatre Ensemble and PIP Theatre companies, the award-winning stage actor and director has created several hits, among them his 2005 one-man show Man Of La Tiger. The 45-year-old has also appeared in movies such as Men Suddenly In Black and Mighty Baby.

This month Chim will have to call on all his stage skills as he performs in another one-man show at the 12,500-seat Hong Kong Coliseum. He has laid the groundwork with an online clip promoting the show. Adapted from an Andy Lau song, I Don't Wanna Say Goodbye, Chim's rendition focuses of common gripes of Hong Kong people and has already received more than 1.3 million views so far.

What is your new one-man show about?

It's a milestone in my career. The Coliseum is a platform for singers. No theatrical artist has staged a show there. I've performed in large and small venues, almost all the theatres in Hong Kong. To me, it's important to perform before a larger audience.

I started to plan for this show in 2009. People might think I would adapt my previous productions such as Man Of La Tiger for the Coliseum. In fact, I've left that behind.

I'm not a typical performer for the Coliseum and that inspired the idea of Tek Koon. It literally means kicking the hall, but it also represents challenging the authorities, existing systems and traditional ideas. The show embraces energy, anger, sensation and emotion. It will tackle social phenomena such as resentment of the rich, the hectic lives of Hong Kong people and the outrageous real estate market.

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