Xiqu Centre, West Kowloon Cultural District | Xiqu Centre, West Kowloon Cultural District x Hong Kong Repertory Theatre x HSBC Insurance Presents Musical 'The Lawyer Wong' to Kick off China Tour and Third Run in Hong Kong in Mid-June

Description

The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) and the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre (HK Rep) are pleased to announce that The Lawyer Wong, the first Cantonese musical commissioned by WKCDA, co-presented and co-produced by WKCDA and HK Rep, will officially kick off its China tour and third run in Hong Kong starting 17 June 2025, with performances in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong over a period of two and a half months.

The 2025 performances of The Lawyer Wong are titled sponsored by HSBC Insurance and funded by the National Arts Fund. The Beijing Office of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is the supporting organisation for the Beijing leg of the China tour. Tickets for all performances are now on sale, and details of the early bird discount tickets for the Hong Kong performances will be announced in due course.

The first stop of the China tour is Shanghai, where The Lawyer Wong will be staged at Shanghai Culture Square from 17 to 29 June 2025 for a total of 10 performances, with an enthusiastic response from the audience. Two additional performances were added last Friday (16 May), and only a limited number of tickets are still available. The second stop of the tour is Beijing, where the show will be performed at Tianqiao Art Centre from 11 to 20 July 2025 for 10 performances. Tickets went on sale on 13 May 2025 (Tuesday) on the Tianqiao Art Centre website. After the China tour, The Lawyer Wong will return to the Xiqu Centre, West Kowloon Cultural District in mid-August 2025 for its third run in Hong Kong, with more than 10 performances. Details of the early bird discount tickets for the Hong Kong performances will be announced in due course.

The Lawyer Wong brings together the best of Hong Kong's musical theatre talents, both on stage and behind the scenes, including composer and music director Leon Ko, lyricist Chris Shum, playwright Cheung Fei-fan, director Joe Mantello, choreographer Dennis Law, stage aesthetics director Doris Chan, and actors including Lau Shau-ching, Cheng Chun-hei, Ting Tung-yan, and Cheung Yin, among others. In April 2024, WKCDA and HK Rep conducted a global open recruitment for new cast members to join the production for its future tours in China and overseas, successfully recruiting 19 new cast members, including Leung Chung-hang, who recently won the Best Supporting Actor (Tragedy/Drama) award at the 33rd Hong Kong Drama Awards, and Yuen Ho-yeung, who won the Best Actor in a Musical award. These new cast members will join the original team for the China tour and Hong Kong performances this year.

The Lawyer Wong tells the story of Fong Tong-ging, a lawyer from Guangdong who aids the tyrant Zhou and commits many evil deeds. Eventually, he is haunted by a vengeful ghost seeking his life. In order to survive, Fong is led by a ghost named Ah Sai to clear the name of Ah Sai's beloved, Siu-siu. The two men and one ghost embark on a journey, moving from hatred to forgiveness, setting things right and finding redemption along the way. The Lawyer Wong depicts a range of intricate emotions and thought-provoking stories, with a rich and compelling plot and a diverse musical score that blends Cantonese opera, nursery rhymes, waltzes, classical, 1920s Broadway, ballads, rock, folk, and Buddhist music. The set design combines classical and modern aesthetics, showcasing the unique blend of ancient and modern, East and West, that characterises Hong Kong's culture. The creative team has been refining the production since its conception in 2015, constantly striving for excellence and setting a new standard for Cantonese musical theatre in Hong Kong.

Since its premiere in 2022 and subsequent run in 2023, The Lawyer Wong has been performed over 30 times in Hong Kong and has won 24 awards, including the 'Annual Excellent Musical Award - Professional Theatre Original Musical' at the inaugural '2023 Shanghai Musical Festival' in February 2023; 10 awards, including 'Best Production', at the '31st Hong Kong Drama Awards' in June 2023, making it the most awarded production in the history of the awards; the 'Best Play' and 'Best Actor' awards at the inaugural 'Ou Yang Yu Qian Drama Awards' hosted by the Central Academy of Drama in October 2024; and five awards, including the 'Organising Committee Special Award' and 'Best Composer of the Year', at the '2024 Beijing • Tianqiao Musical Awards' in November 2024. In January 2025, the production received six awards, including the 'Annual Most Popular Original Musical' and 'Annual Outstanding Composer', at the '2024 China Musical Academy Annual Ceremony - Night of Honour'.

HSBC Insurance has been committed to promoting the cultural and arts industry in Hong Kong. By sponsoring The Lawyer Wong, HSBC Insurance demonstrates its support for the development of cultural and arts activities and its dedication to bringing local Hong Kong culture to the international stage.

Leo Tsang, Executive Director, Performing Arts of WKCDA, said: 'We are thrilled that The Lawyer Wong has received such a warm response from audiences and the industry after its first two runs, with over 30 performances. This year, we are excited to bring the show to Shanghai and Beijing for the first time and to return to the Xiqu Centre this summer. This iconic work, conceived nearly a decade ago, not only represents the unique creativity of this city, but also showcases the essence and richness of the Cantonese language. As the commissioner, co-presenter and co-producer of this musical, we are incredibly proud of its achievements. We hope that The Lawyer Wong will continue to represent Hong Kong on the international stage, setting more milestones, and inspiring more creative endeavours. I invite audiences to join us on this wonderful journey.'

Polo Pang, Artistic Director of HK Rep, said: 'The return of The Lawyer Wong is undoubtedly an exhilarating cultural event! This year, we are not only showcasing the unique charm of Hong Kong's original musicals again, but also bringing the production to Shanghai and Beijing for the first time, marking a milestone in the development of our theatre company. The Lawyer Wong has received numerous accolades and widespread praise, demonstrating the strength of Cantonese productions that are 'rooted in Hong Kong, with an international vision'. The creative team has worked tirelessly to refine the production, and with the addition of new cast members, we have injected new energy into the show. I am delighted to see the continued success of The Lawyer Wong and look forward to its future development as it reaches even wider audiences and becomes a Hong Kong classic.'

Pansy Tsang, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Insurance (Asia-Pacific) Holdings Limited, said: 'We are delighted to be the title sponsor of this award-winning production, which has not only been well-received by Hong Kong audiences but also garnered applause in many cities across China. Both the arts and insurance industries value the experience and well-being of their customers and strive to help them achieve balance in their daily lives and enhance their mental health through art appreciation. We look forward to the positive impact that this production will bring to audiences and are honoured to support this meaningful project.'