Students from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, the only tertiary education institution in Hong Kong dedicated to the performing arts, have adopted Luna Gale, a script published in 2014 by Rebecca Gilman, in 2018. Their performance has received multiple nominations and accolades at the major awards in the local drama industry.
Luna Gale tells the story of a seasoned social worker called Caroline, who was sexually abused when she was young, and how she tries to steer young drug addicted couple Peter and Karlie through their hardships, together with their neglected baby daughter. Karlie seems to have suffered the same experience of abuse, while Caroline is determined to support them along the way and help them find a way out.
"A friend introduced the play to me and told me that I would be an ideal person to direct the drama," says director Terence Chang, a senior lecturer in the Academy's School of Drama. "After I read the script, which I really liked, I felt I was suited to direct the play."
"I am particularly sensitive to youth development, the regrets people face as they are growing up and how those might impact their lives," adds Chang, who worked for Teen AIDS for five years. "I chose Luna Gale because this story is especially meaningful to young people." Also, the round characters of the play are appropriate for training drama students.
The student production has gained recognition within the industry, receiving a number of nominations and awards. It was considered the most outstanding performance in the 11th Hong Kong Theatre Libre. The play was also graded as one of the best dramas of the year in the 28th Hong Kong Drama Awards.
"Playing such a heavy role is no easy task," says Luk Ka-ki, the drama student who played the key role of Caroline.
She adds that Chang arranged meetings with social workers so that she could observe and understand what they do and how they think. Chang also made use of improvisation to make sure Ka-ki and other actors could better understand the mentality of the characters and the settings.
With all this preparation and practice, Ka-ki managed to interpret the role well and her performance has left an indelible impression on the audience. She was nominated for best leading actress in the 11th Hong Kong Theatre Libre, the 28th Hong Kong Drama Awards and the 2018 IATC (HK) Critics Awards, winning in the 11th Hong Kong Theatre Libre.
The training that Chang arranged was an inspiration not only to the cast but to the entire production team, among them was Meiling Chan, the School of Theatre and Entertainment Arts student who contributed to the drama as Sound Designer. For this, her first attempt to be in charge of the sound design for a production, she says that the training the Academy provided helped her understand how to communicate and cooperate with others as a team. The sharing sessions held with social workers also helped her empathise with sex abuse survivors so she could add "depth and genuine sentiment" when composing music and sound effects for the play.
Alongside the inspiration students can draw from the play, students' emotions might sometimes be triggered by the roles they played, especially since Luna Gale is a story about sexual assault. As a teacher, Chang had the responsibility to provide his students with guidance and advice or even intervention when needed to ensure students can explore the boundless possibilities over the "safety net" the Academy provided.
As an institute especially committed to the performing arts, the Academy produces more than a dozen large-scale public performances each year, in fields as varied as Chinese opera, dance, drama, opera and concerts. Under the guidance of the teachers, students from different schools participate in the productions, including on-stage performances and backstage preparation.
The schools invite professionals and experts in the local and international industry to participate in production processes so that students can broaden their horizons. This is in line with their goal of providing students with practical training for them to become professional performers and designers. From the selection of a script to meeting the expectations of the directors of the productions, the Academy aims to reach a professional standard so that students can learn from each production.
The success of Luna Gale was a great encouragement for teachers and students in this regard; and the three of them attribute the success to the accumulative achievements throughout the learning processes at the Academy and caring team members.
Chang, though, says he is more concerned about audience feedback and satisfaction with the play. He also compliments the effort Ka-ki made to portray a character who is 30 years older than her. "I hope through this story, I can bring some hope to society and the young people of Hong Kong," Chang says.
In turn, Ka-ki expresses her gratitude to Chang for his guidance and leadership, which helped make the production a success; and says she could engage herself with the role thanks to the makeup artist's and dressers' prowess. Meiling adds that she treasures the team spirit and friendships most, which she puts down to the professional steering and facilitation provided by the Academy.
The four years at the Academy helped Ka-ki and Meiling clarify their life goals. Ka-ki sees theatre as a place to inspire people, and is determined to become a professional actress and to contribute to the local cultural industry; while Meiling has found her passion in sound design, and hopes to share with the public her sound installations in the near future.
(The article was published in the Sep 2019 issue of Academy News. Click here to read the original story.)
Subscribe to eNews here to receive the monthly e-newsletter and the latest updates at the Academy.