Last year, Scott Ligertwood and Nick Harvey waved goodbye to Hong Kong for what was supposed to be the last time. Better known as children's entertainers Scotty and Lulu, the pair were going to be missed. For 10 years they'd bounced their way round Hong Kong, plying their brand of magic, music and laughter to sell-out crowds. They'd even had shows on TV. But it was all over - apparently. After just nine months, Scotty and Lulu are returning to Hong Kong. 'Our main fan base is over there,' says Harvey (aka Lulu). 'They love us and we love them. Our fans keep sending us e-mails asking when we're coming back, so we felt we owed it to them. Plus we're still novices in the UK and America - but we can fill a theatre in Hong Kong.' Scotty and Lulu will be heading to Hong Kong for nine performances next month. 'Hong Kong is one big city,' Ligertwood says. 'In the UK, there are about 10 major cities and it's much more difficult to establish yourself.' America is no easier and the duo have spent the past 12 months travelling across the continent, culminating in a show in New York. 'It wasn't Madison Square Garden,' says Harvey. 'More like our agent Ingrid's back garden.' The pair launched their career in Hong Kong in 1994, appearing on a twice-weekly children's TV programme, Beeswacks. 'The show was on TVB Pearl,' Ligertwood says. 'It appealed to expats looking for entertainment for their kiddies. In the lead-up to 1997 everyone thought there'd be this mass exodus of expats but it didn't happen. And for about two years after the 1997-98 recession, the city was booming. But we found we had a lot of local Chinese kids coming to our shows, as well. It was a great way to learn English - lots of fun and silliness.' Harvey moved back to his native London in 1997 to pursue a career writing music for television. Ligertwood, meanwhile, bought a house in England's Lake District with his partner, but the couple, who have six children, decided to stay in Hong Kong until last year. 'Within a very short space of time of living in Hong Kong I'd been a TV presenter and session pianist, and written music for TV and film including a kung fu movie,' Harvey says. 'Moving back to the UK brought me straight back down to earth. But at least I was on the second rung of the ladder in London and not the first.' It paid off. A few months ago, a production team of which Harvey was a member won an Emmy for a TV show called The Illustrated Mum. But for the past eight years, in between working, Harvey has found time to revisit Hong Kong to perform with Ligertwood, and says he loves his dual life. The show scheduled for Hong Kong is called Bounce! A Madcap Musical Adventure, and a group of children will be selected to form a so-called Happy Crew to learn the songs and dance routines ahead of the performances. 'It doesn't matter if they pick their nose or whatever on stage because they're having a laugh,' Ligertwood says. 'But at least they'll know the songs. There'll be nine different schools taking part and 20 kids from each school performing in each of our shows.' The show lasts for an hour, and Harvey says it's not too long for even the youngest fan. 'If their eyes glaze over they could be on medication,' he says. And if anyone remembers Scotty and Lulu's last show in Hong Kong, the Space Time Continuum Machine will be making a re-appearance. 'It's a magic trick,' Ligertwood says. 'We have this 22-inch plasma screen on stage and when Lulu goes into it he can appear anywhere - at one point he ends up in his bedroom and discovers he has a walking talking teddy bear. The idea is to get the audience involved - to make them feel like they're part of the show.' Bounce! A Madcap Musical Adventure, Jun 10-12, 10am, 2pm, 4pm, Drama Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, $128 to $388, HKTicketing. Inquiries: 3128 8288
