Three new drama productions tackle big social issues

NEW ENERGY SERIES
Leisure and Cultural Services Department

Artocrite Theatre, BHT Theatre and HK Dramatists, companies all founded by Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts alumni, share a passion for pushing the boundaries of theatre. That's why the theatre groups, which are all less than five years old, have been invited by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department to stage shows in a month-long performance programme dubbed the New Energy Series.

The rules are simple: each company has to come up with an original script that is performed by young, aspiring actors. "The rest is up to us," says Birdy Wong Ching-yan, who wrote, directs and stars in The Cans, a psychological thriller presented by Artocrite Theatre, which she co-founded with five theatre enthusiasts in 2010. "The independence they give us supports our love for doing theatre in our quirky way, in a multisensory manner."

None of these companies are taking the easy route. Wong's script, inspired by her favourite horror comic artist Junji Ito, aims to present a sense of terror and suspense on stage. This, says Wong, can devolve into comedy if not tackled well.