Gala Production 2023

A Midsummer night’s dream - The Elements of Magic

Our unique production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream blends Shakespeare’s beloved comedy with the five elements of Chinese philosophy—Fire, Wood, Water, Earth, and Metal—creating a magical fusion of love and nature. Set in the mythical land of Shangri-la, the story begins in a Hong Kong child’s bedroom, the child who dreams this fantastical world into life.

Puppetry brings to life the five mystical Chinese creatures, including the White Tiger, Azure Dragon, and Phoenix, each representing an element and adding depth to the characters' journeys. Titania and Oberon, inspired by the Sun and Moon, reflect the balance of Yin and Yang, their costumes and interactions symbolising their connection.

Music from the 80s, including songs like Annie Lennox’s “Sweet Dreams” and Bette Midler’s “The Rose,” enhances the themes of love and dreams throughout the play. A special highlight is the inclusion of Hong Kong sign language interpretation during key moments, making the performance more inclusive.

The S4A Annual Gala

The S4A Annual Gala has become the leader in the Children’s Performance Arts field in Hong Kong. Each year one of Shakespeare’s classic plays is reimagined to align itself with the history, heritage, and culture of Asia, mixed with elements and concepts from the modern days.

​Since 2018, S4A Annual Gala has been funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust through their support for the Jockey Club "Destiny In Ourselves" Youth Drama Programme and Jockey Club "All The World's Our Stage" Shakespeare Youth Drama Programme. The Gala has a cast, orchestra, and production team of over 100 young people aged between 8 and 18. It is an opportunity for young people to challenge their aspirations to step out of their comfort zone and embrace the power and magic of theatre both on and off the stage.

They learn performance skills such as classical theatre training, physical theatre techniques, vocal and singing training, dance, stage combat, martial arts, puppetry, character, and cultural study. The chosen students undertake intensive training over August and the performance is usually in September. The audition applications are cut off at 300 and only 60 places are available.

The student technical production team of the Gala are from the S4A Powerhouse Project, who embark on a week-long theatre internship as the final part of their 2-month training. Additional students who are part of the production team are Alumni of the performers who work directly beside the Artistic Director as Junior Assistant Directors.