The 1st Academy Festival held last year showcased students’ vitality through its extensive programme. It brought them abundant learning opportunities and fond memories too. This year, as part of the 2nd Academy Festival programme, the School of Drama invites distinguished alumna to participate in its production. This not only allows for invaluable professional and intellectual exchanges, but also carries symbolic meaning.
William Golding’s Lord of the Flies tells the story of a group of children stranded on a deserted island after the plane they were on got shot down in the midst of a raging war. With no adult survivors in the mix, the preteens devolve into savagery. Professor Poon Wai-sum, Dean of the School of Drama, read this novel for the first time during his university study and became fascinated by its exploration on the dark side of human nature. He often references it in his teaching, and in this semester he draws on the book for inspiration when fashioning a play for the 2nd Academy Festival. Entitled Who’s Afraid of Lord of the Flies, this production will feature a guest performance of alumna Alice Lau.
“The novel serves as a good teaching material as we can observe how the characters change. The oldest character is 12 years of age, so it will be a challenge for our students to play preteen characters too,” Professor Poon says. His adaptation also features adult parts in which the characters are faced with another war after they grow up, triggering memories of their experiences in the past. So Chun-wai (Year 3, Bachelor’s degree in Drama) will be playing the role of a grown-up character. “My character often looks back at his childhood experiences, so I have to be really well prepared for the role. A lot of details in the play have got me thinking of what’s happening in society and wondering about interpersonal relationships. It has led me to do a lot of serious thinking,” he shares.
Although her character does not appear in many scenes in the play, alumna Alice Lau regards the time being spent with the students as invaluable. She is eager to share with them the lessons she has learnt from her career in the industry. Professor Poon says the practice of having alumni take part in School of Drama productions represents a symbolic passing of the torch from one generation of the Academy to another. "Through the exchanges between our alumni and the students, we hope to show that both generations are dedicated to contributing to the theatre scene in Hong Kong.”
Both Professor Poon and Lau agree that alumni should have greater involvement with Academy projects that allow more interaction between alumni and current students. Lau regrets that even while her time at the Academy was among the happiest of her life, she has not returned to the alma mater as often as she would have liked after her graduation in 1990. To her, working on this production with the current students is an exciting opportunity, and she feels like a freshman again. “I wish to learn more about how the school is run these days and to know more about the students. I am curious to know about the new teaching methods, and how different the students are from us in the past. This is very interesting to me, as I rarely work with young talents over the course of my career.”
Lau’s sense of mission has been growing in her these years and she has looked into the ways that a veteran actress like her can contribute to the theatre world and to the nurturing of young actors. “In recent years, I always accept young playwrights’ invitation to help with play-reading which surprises them. To me, if young and passionate fellows need my help, why not?” Lau jokingly voices her hope that students will not be driven away by her somewhat stern appearance, saying, “When I was a student, I also had a lot of questions for my teachers, like whether I could be a good actress, or what would the future hold for me. I have come a long way in my acting career, and I have plenty of experience to share.” Student So looks forward to working with Lau, saying, “It is an invaluable chance for us to work with alumni. I am sure we could learn a lot from Alice, be it performing techniques or interpersonal skills.”
Professor Poon, who was appointed Dean of Drama last year, considers one of the most crucial issues he faces to be how the courses at the Academy can meet the expectation of youngsters. In discussing his plans for the School, he also places a priority on looking at industry expectations of the Academy’s graduates and making further connections with overseas institutions; and with these in place, the overall teaching standards at the Academy will be further enhanced. “We will review our curriculum and find out what needs to be updated and then implement them in the coming years. The emphasis on interdisciplinarity has been growing in recent years. There are many ways drama can be used in society, and what I aim to find out is how to expand the career possibilities of our graduates beyond acting or directing.”
Professor Poon also wishes that his students come away from their time at the Academy with life lessons that help them to be responsible individuals. “The study of drama should not only be a professional pursuit. It carries deeper meaning. Through drama, we learn more about ourselves, others, and society. I hope the students, artistically and personally, can see the high point of what one can achieve, and slowly try to climb to that high point.” Lau shares Professor Poon’s views, saying, “I have a better understanding on life through acting. It taught me to look at life more calmly and has made me a better person.”
(The article was published in the Apr 2018 issue of Academy News. Click here to read the original story.)
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