Gala Production 2021 - Antony and Cleopatra

This adaptation of Antony and Cleopatra reimagines the classical tale in the vibrant, neon-lit setting of 1970s Hong Kong's nightclub scene. Cleopatra, now a disco diva ruling over "Cleopatra’s Palace" in Lan Kwai Fong, navigates a tumultuous love affair with Marc Antony, a fading kung fu star and film house owner. Their relationship parallels the larger political drama, with Antony's obsession with Cleopatra weakening his alliances and clouding his judgment. This clash between love and duty is heightened by the cultural backdrop: Hong Kong's fast-paced nightlife stands in stark contrast to the disciplined, business-focused world of Kowloon, representing the Roman influence in this retelling. The creative decision to draw on Hong Kong’s history of disco culture and kung fu cinema gives a modern, playful twist to the original narrative while maintaining its core themes of power, betrayal, and passion.

The director's vision of transforming Shakespeare’s timeless conflicts—love versus war, emotions versus reason, and play versus work—into this uniquely Asian context is both ambitious and captivating. The nightclub setting becomes a symbolic battlefield, with Antony’s loyalty to Cleopatra mirroring his inability to reconcile his passions with his political responsibilities. Cleopatra’s Egyptian allure is woven into the fabric of Hong Kong’s disco decadence, offering a rich metaphor for her emotional dominance and theatricality. The use of iconic disco hits like "Funky Town," both in English and Cantonese, further cements the play’s immersion into 1970s Hong Kong, while simultaneously allowing for a dynamic blend of music, drama, and comedy. The adaptation preserves the complexity of Shakespeare's work while breathing new life into it through a modern cultural lens, making the story both accessible and entertaining for contemporary audiences.

A huge thank you to our sponsors, whose generous support and invaluable collaboration made this incredible production possible. Our heartfelt thanks go to ADMGS (Art Development Matching Grants Scheme), The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, 3812 Art Enterprises Limited, the Vincent and Lily Woo Foundation, The Jessie & George Ho Charitable Foundation, Dr David Chien, Miss Lily Chow, Rotary Hong Kong South and our founding sponsor, Swire Properties, for their commitment to our vision. We also appreciate the thoughtful contribution of G2000 as our Gala Production T-Shirt Sponsor.

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.