Do not take John Lee Yiu-shing's latest work too seriously. Though billed as a theatre show about post-1997 uncertainties, the dancer and musician says it has more to do with wordplay than conveying meaningful political messages. Strategic Paranoia, a multi-media performance to be staged at the Hong Kong Arts Centre tomorrow night, is about Hong Kong politics - and poking fun at it. 'Everything in life, including politics, is a game,' Lee, 31, says. 'Life is one big game.' In a way, so is his show. He says Strategic Paranoia is different from traditional theatre. The 'play' has neither a structure nor a storyline. Rather, it is about playing around with language and ideas. 'For instance, national anthems, flags, political ideas and jargon are only symbols in the production so they should not be taken at face value,' Lee says. However, one cannot ignore the strong political undertones of the show. For instance, the Joint Declaration, Basic Law, provisional legislature, the chief executive of the Special Administrative Region (SAR) government and pro-China are terms he uses liberally in his songs. There are also graphic references to blood and fear. So, what is he trying to tell us? 'These are words and ideologies. I want to use them, mix them up [in another context] and come up with alternative meanings of these words,' the part-time accompanist at the Academy for Performing Arts explains. 'I want to break away from the social definitions of this ideology and give them new meanings.' Lee says flowery language, and words, used by politicians mean little. One rap explains that it is the many interpretations of one single political term or ideology that has created uncertainty for the public. 'What does 'pro-China' or 'pro-British' mean?' he asks. 'I have taken these terms out of their original social definition and put them in a different context, the result can be humorous.' Lee, who appeared in the Music Lab segment of Festival Now last year, will team up with two other 'alternative' musicians in Strategic Paranoia. 'Music-wise, it is a mishmash of punk rock, Canto-pop, the southern sound [traditional southern Chinese music] and jazz,' he says. 'And when we play the southern sound, we'll play it our way, in our style. 'There will be plenty of structured improvisation, too.' It is this combination of alternative music, choice of instruments [Lee will be using frame drums for rhythm], recordings, lyrics and dancing that characterise the offbeat spirit of the show. Lee says his own background has much to do with his choice of subject in Strategic Paranoia. 'I was brought up and educated in Hong Kong. My living experience is totally local. 'If I were 40 now, my life experience would be completely different. I would have lived through events like the Cultural Revolution,' he says. 'But being 31, my life is much influenced by events such as June 4 and Hong Kong's first direct elections.' When asked how he feels about the territory's future, Lee believes public interests generally have been ignored by the Chinese and British sides in the run-up to next July. He says the two governments were only protecting their interests. 'The Joint Declaration, to this day, it has been a dialogue between the Chinese and the British. 'Their talks have never truly reflected Hong Kong people's interest,' Lee says. 'Instead, we are bombarded with political jargon. 'My impression is that they don't really care about Hong Kong affairs. 'Though the show is about politics [and not party politics] what I'm trying to tell the audience is apolitical. 'This is a very personal show. You can say I'm talking about politics from my viewpoint without being judgmental.' Strategic Paranoia, Arts Centre Shouson Theatre, August 3, 8pm, $80. Urbtix
