Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts is a leading tertiary institution in the performing arts in Asia. It provides professional undergraduate education and practice-based postgraduate studies. The study encompasses Chinese Opera, Dance, Drama, Film and Television, Music, and Theatre and Entertainment Arts. Its educational philosophy reflects the cultural diversity of Hong Kong with emphasis on Chinese and Western traditions, and interdisciplinary learning.
BU21 BY SIMON STEPHENS
MAIN ROLE: SET DESIGNER
This was my final project for my BA in Set & Costume design at HKAPA.
The premise was on the London Bombings of 2005. It focused on the lives of five characters affected by the bombings. My design was based on the destruction of Chelsea, and my concept was centred around including minutiae from the script into the debris and destruction from the terrorist attacks. The top wall could be articulated.
Due to the unstable political climate in Hong Kong in 2019, the school unfortunately was unable to stage the production. As such, even though I was able to complete my design and the set was built, the production never came to fruition.
ANOTHER DAY ON THE MOON
MAIN ROLE: SET, PROP & COSTUME DESIGNER
''Another Day on the Moon'' was choreographed by Zelia Tan in HKAPA.
Born from the idea trying to connect with one another and our surroundings, a parallel was drawn to our relation with the moon. The dance was an exploration of how us Earthlings would play on and with the moon.
This an exercise in executing a show from conceptualization to fruition, as well as not just designing but making all props and costumes by hand.
BODY MUSEUM
MAIN ROLE: SET DESIGNER & PROP COORDINATOR
Body museum was a student's masters thesis paper, and was an exploration of different types of bodies (e.g. that of a child, an old lady, a wheelchair-bound person) through dance. In this production, the audience is able to observe the body through a small window. Audience members are also asked to take photos of the dancers, these photos were then displayed for the performers to mimic again,
In the process of designing, I elected to set each performer inside a box to signify the performative aspect and liken them to exhibits in a museum. However, towards the end of the production, each box would open up into a stage, with the individual booths forming props that the dancers could interact with.
