HKAPA 40th Anniversary Musical Celebration Production: What the Buddha Said - A Tribute to the Teachers and Students of the Academy in the Last Four Decades
In celebration of the 40th Anniversary of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), the School of Drama of the Academy, in collaboration with the Schools of Dance, Chinese Opera, Film and Television, Music, and Theatre and Entertainment Arts, will present the musical: What the Buddha Said at the Academy Lyric Theatre from 7 to 10 May 2025.
Tony Wong, Acting Dean of the School of Drama and director of the 40th Anniversary musical celebration production What the Buddha Said, had conceptualised the piece as a romantic comedy fairytale. He wanted to create a musical that pays tribute to the teachers and students of the Academy in the last four decades, by depicting their growth as artists, “Using the classical Chinese tale of Journey to the West as a blueprint, the musical describes how the team of five grapples with 81 challenges before obtaining the scriptures, and uses that as a metaphor for the learning journeys of the Academy’s students and teachers. The growth of an artist is never smooth and painless, and as the saying goes, ‘behind every minute on stage is a decade of toil’. All the teachers who have dedicated themselves to nurturing their students, and all the students who have done them proud by working hard should be recognised. In the next 40 years, how will the Academy uphold its legacy while opening up fresh artistic pathways? This is something everyone can’t wait to know.”
The production features teacher-artists from a host of areas, including drama, dance, design aesthetics, music and film, who will be guiding some 200 students and alumni of the Academy to perform or work backstage. Celebrated artists and supporters of the Academy have also been invited to take part in this large-scale project, including Cheung Fei-fan (playwright), who has written multiple renowned musicals. He will be joined by three Academy alumni: Frankie Ho (composer and music director), who has created many award-winning musicals; Chung Chi-wing (lyricist), who has produced widely acclaimed musicals such as I Have a Date with Spring and 1941 Girl; and Pichead Amornsomboon, who has garnered numerous drama and musical accolades, in the leading role of Holy Monk. It is a line-up that promises an unforgettable show.
HKAPA 40th Anniversary Musical Celebration Production: What the Buddha Said
Musical in Cantonese with Chinese & English surtitles
The production is suitable for audience aged 12 or above
Playwright: Cheung Fei-fan
Composer & Music Director: Frankie Ho
Lyrics: Chung Chi-wing
Director: Tony Wong
Choreographer: Henry Shum
Conductor: Hsu Wei-en
Guest Actor: Pichead Amornsomboon
Set Design: Jonathan Wong, Joslyn Wong Lok-yiu
Costume Design: Bacchus Lee, Kwok Hoi-yan
Lighting Design: Billy Chan
Sound Design: Leung Po-wing
Production Managers: Abby Lau Wai-ying, Whytung Lam Yee-tung
Tickets are now available at Cityline: https://cultural.cityline.com/en/2025/whatthebuddhasaid.html
Synopsis & production team: https://www.hkapa.edu/event/academy-musical-what-the-buddha-said
About The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (www.hkapa.edu)
The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), established by The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Ordinance in 1984, is a leading tertiary institution in performing arts. 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.
Since 2008, the Academy has attained the Programme Area Accreditation (PAA) status awarded by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) to self-monitor and accredit its own undergraduate and post-secondary programmes in the five programme areas of Dance, Drama, Film and Television, Music, and Theatre and Entertainment Arts. Since 2016, the PAA status has been extended to cover Master’s Degree programmes and below; and since 2023, the programmes operated by the School of Chinese Opera accredited by HKCAAVQ have also received PAA status for its post-secondary and undergraduate programmes.
Besides the main campus in Wanchai, Béthanie, the site of the Academy’s Landmark Heritage Campus in Pokfulam, has housed training facilities for the School of Film and Television since 2006.
In the QS University Rankings announced in 2025, the Academy ranks top 20 in the Performing Arts category.