The strong demand for the sold-out Cantonese musical The Impossible Trial suggests that Hong Kong could see more shows of this kind in the future, according to one of its presenters, with its popularity casting a spotlight on all aspects of the production, including its contemporary Chinese aesthetics.
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Producing more large-scale, recurring theatrical productions also raises the question of how to store stage sets in a city where space is at a premium. The West Kowloon Cultural District has emphasised this as a key consideration if the city is to develop the industry further.
“It’s easier to recover the costs if we put on a long-running, large-scale production. After all, you need to strike a balance between art and business,” said Paul Tam Siu-man, executive director for performing arts of the district’s managing authority.
“It’s an expensive investment. Week-long shows are almost guaranteed to make a loss. We’re fortunate that our first attempt with The Impossible Trial was a success, which gave us confidence to commission the second, third, fourth and more Cantonese musicals.”
Tam explained that the district did not have storage space for stage productions on site, and that it was something that had to be considered for long-running shows. He said it depended on how regularly they were performed or whether they went on tour.
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“Whether or not to put sets into storage was also a matter of how much you’ve invested in the sets and whether renting a warehouse was worthwhile,” he said, adding that certain elements would need to be remade or replaced routinely due to wear and tear.