WestK and HKRep present The Impossible Trial - a musical, returning to the stage for 20 performances at the Xiqu Centre

【HKRep】The Impossible Trial – a musical, the first original Cantonese musical commissioned by West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA), returns for a highly anticipated rerun of 20 public performances starting from today. Co-presented and co-produced with Hong Kong Repertory Theatre (HKRep) and featuring the acclaimed original cast, the production runs at the Grand Theatre of the Xiqu Centre until 24 December 2023. The Impossible Trial – a musical, composed by Leon Ko (also as Musical Director), with lyrics by Chris Shum, written by Cheung Fei Fan, directed by Fong Chun Kit, and Ivanhoe Lam as Staging Director & Choreographer, Wong Yat Kwan as Scenographer, featuring Lau Shau Ching, Jordan Cheng, Tunes Ting, Clinton Zhang, Rick Lau, Yau Ting Fai, Fung Chi Yau, Man Sui Hing, Kiki Cheung, ManMan Kwok, Vivian Chan, Adam Tang, Rick Cheung, Christopher Ying, Olga Chung, Eddy Au Yeung, Angus Chan, Dee To and Luk Ka Ki brings together some of Hong Kong’s top creatives to produce a three-hour performance. Building on the huge critical acclaim of last year’s premiere, tickets for all 14 rerun performances sold out on the first day of public sale. In response to the strong demand, the WKCDA and HKRep announced the addition of five more performances of the musical, together with the Shun Hing Group Exclusive Performance, bringing the total number of public performances to 20. Only a very limited number of tickets are available for sale at POPTICKET.  Members of the public are advised to act quickly if they want to grasp the rare opportunity to enjoy a highly acclaimed musical. 

The musical tells the story of Fong Tong Geng, Guangdong’s most prominent advocate, who is known for his greed and malice. However, at the height of his career, heaven deals Fong a blow and his reputation and wealth vanish overnight. Haunted by the bitter ghost of a childhood friend, Fong fights his way back to the magistracy to right his wrongs and redeem himself as the champion of the common man. 
 
The creative concept of the musical began to take shape as early as 2009, and was successfully premiered in September 2022 with tickets for all 11 performances quickly sold out. Building on years of effort and dedication from the creative team, the production finally made it to the stage and won both popular and critical acclaim. In June this year, the musical swept 10 accolades at the 31st Hong Kong Drama Awards, including Best Production, Best Original Music (Musical), Best Lyrics, Best Director, Best Actor and Actress, Best Supporting Actor (Tragedy/Drama) and more, and became the most awards winning production since the awards’ inception. This industry-wide recognition reflects the team’s meticulous planning and professionalism in staging such an accomplished production.
 
The opening of the 2023 rerun of The Impossible Trial – a musical was marked by a cocktail reception organised by the WKCDA and HKRep outside the Grand Theatre. The reception was attended by over 200 guests including Paul Chan, Financial Secretary, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Paul Lam, Secretary for Justice, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Jat Sew-tong, Chairman of the Performing Arts Committee of the WKCDA; Betty Fung, Chief Executive Officer of the WKCDA; and Siu Chor-kee, Council Chairman of HKRep. The guests stayed on after the reception to enjoy the show with other audience.
 
Paul Lam, Secretary for Justice, HKSAR Government, said, “I am delighted to witness the premiere of the re-run of “The Impossible Trial – a musical”, an award-winning production commissioned by WKCD, co-presented and co-produced by the WKCD and HKRep, this year. The outstanding performance of “The Impossible Trial” is attributed to the dedicated hard work of the production team and the cast, including not only veterans in the theatre industry but also energetic and talented, up-and-coming actors, actresses and backstage crew members. What is most gratifying is that a majority of the creative team are locally nurtured talents. I hope everyone can appreciate this original Cantonese musical that belongs to Hong Kong, and I look forward to more extraordinary productions from the team in the future.”
 
Jat Sew-tong, Chairman of the Performing Arts Committee, WKCDA, said, “The Impossible Trial – a musical stands as a triumph of creative collaboration between the WKCDA and HKRep. We are delighted that the production has received such high acclaim within the industry, underscoring WKCDA’s steadfast commitment to nurturing and showcasing excellence in local musicals. It also lays a solid foundation for our Lyric Theatre Complex, a centre of excellence for showcasing the best of Hong Kong and international theatre that is opening in the near future. Going forward, we hope The Impossible Trial – a musical can tour internationally, allowing audiences in different regions to enjoy the creativity that underpins Hong Kong's vibrant culture. Our ambition is for local musicals to spark excitement on mainland and international stages, and for The Impossible Trial – a musical to be acknowledged as a classic of Hong Kong theatre.”
 
Siu Chor-kee, Council Chairman of Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, said, “The musical genre has developed in Hong Kong for nearly half a century. As early as the 1980s, the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre produced the first Cantonese-language Broadway musical West Side Story in Hong Kong, winning popular acclaim with a total of 19 performances in a three-month span. This time, the HKRep co-presents and co-produces The Impossible Trial – a musical with the West Kowloon Cultural District, establishing yet another benchmark for local Cantonese musical. It took many years to bring The Impossible Trial to the stage, from the preview run in 2019 to the public premiere in 2022, which won 10 accolades at the 31st Hong Kong Drama Awards. Committed to making the best of the best, the creative team continues to refine and polish The Impossible Trial this year in the hopes of shaping a musical masterpiece that truly represents Hong Kong.”
 

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