French teacher helps HK actors find beauty in the art of the ugly

One of France's top acting teachers was in Hong Kong this week. Phillippe Gaulier is noted for his skills in the art of clowning and bouffon - to use ugly and grotesque gestures without sacrificing a character's charm. The Theatre Ensemble PIP (Pleasure in Play) School invited Gaulier, who founded his own school for this kind of physical theatre in Paris, to conduct two intensive workshops.

Among his local disciples are comedian Jim Chim Sui-man and Anthony Wong Chau-sang. Film star Karena Lam Ka-yan and the members of the boy group Shine were among his students this week. The sessions concluded with an open class on Friday, with Chim acting as teaching assistant.

A group of about 30 stage actors were willing to face Gaulier's direct and often harsh comments. Among those participating was Yeung Sze-man (pictured), who won this year's Hong Kong Drama Award for best comedy actress. 'I totally paid attention to all his criticisms and comments,' she said. 'There are not many people with his kind of experience who can tell us how to improve our techniques. The more critical his comments were with me, the more excited I got in the lesson.

Luckily for her, it wasn't all criticism. 'He said I have found my own beauty [within the ugly] and that I have the potential to be a performer with my own unique appeal. As an actress, I love theatre and I want to share this joy with everyone who goes to the theatre.'