The Absolute Task | Powerful women form a Christmas Special Force | What makes them strong yet gentle?

 Powerful women form a Christmas Special Force
What makes them strong yet gentle?
The Absolute Task

 
【HKRep】This Christmas, HKRep Artistic Director Poon Wai Sum and Assistant Artistic Director Fong Chun Kit mobilise nearly the entire company, assembling nine excellent actresses to join a Christmas Special Force to challenge “an impossible task”. Passionate and motivated, they travel to the coldest corners in the world to bring warmth and good cheer. The Absolute Task is partly inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, which delves deeply into the relation between human and nature, addressing such themes as perseverance in the face of adversity as exemplified by this famous quote: “A man can be destroyed but not defeated.” Motivated by their sense of mission, these women must face trials and tribulations, often caught between victory and defeat. What will become of them in the end? The Absolute Task is written by HKRep Artistic Director Poon Wai Sum and directed by HKRep Assistant Artistic Director Fong Chun Kit with dramaturgy by Walter Ng. The all-female cast includes Tunes Ting, Man Sui Hing, Wong Hiu Yee, Vivian Chan, Karrie Tan, Luk Ka Ki, ManMan Kwok, Kiki Cheung and Eva Mak. The production runs from 7^th to 15^th December at the Hong Kong City Hall Theatre. Tickets are available now from URBTIX outlets.
 
The Absolute Task: A group of valiant women gather at boot camp. Are they training for an upcoming tournament? They climb rocks and rope, enduring tremendous physical challenges, but for what? They hold fast to their convictions, overcoming challenge after challenge, but what motivates their passion? In the face of a mission impossible, these women travel to the ends of the earth in search of those most in need of Christmas gifts. Let’s see how this special task force uses the gentle to overcome the strong. Let’s uncover the tender secrets of their lives. 
 
Playwright Poon Wai Sum shares his concept behind this creation: “As I prepared to write the script, I spoke with each of the nine female members of our acting company. Their personal experiences and stories form the basis for me to create The Absolute Task. I was also motivated in part by Ernest Hemingway’s novella The Old Man and the Sea. I look forward to sharing the experience of sailing into the ocean in pursuit of the fish, digging deep with our audience into the iceberg of language and dialogue in search of secrets and wisdoms. This is the first time Fong Chun Kit and I officially work together, after our initial collaboration in The Isle. Along with an all-female cast, I very much look forward to this tryout. I can’t wait to witness how sparks will fly on stage.”
 
Director Fong Chun Kit states, “This marks the first time I work with Poon Wai Sum and I’m filled with anticipation! This is a completely new script featuring nine actresses, and there is drama and fun. Basically, all three of my wishes are realised at once. In fact, this is the first time I direct an all-female cast in a full-length work. What is interesting is that The Absolute Task allows me to imagine the female sex anew; the real challenge is to find nine different ways to portray nine actresses, each with her unique character.”

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