Bardolatory by HK teens
The students from Faust, ABA Productions’ sister company, are, unsurprisingly, excited about the Globe’s visit to Hong Kong.
Mark Bojan, 16, has trained with Faust for more than five years and performed in King Lear. “I love how Shakespeare twists and turns his stories, and always has a subplot,” says Bojan. “It is so rewarding to perform as you really immerse yourself in the emotions that his plays evoke.”
Samantha Brooks, also 16, was in King Lear as well. “The amphitheater style of the seating is so adrenalineinducing because there is absolutely nowhere to hide on stage,” says Brooks. “The actors are fully submerged in who they are and what they feel in that moment, and it is an amazing experience. The pressure of having that many eyes on you is what makes it both exciting and terrifying.”
Poppy Conway, 17, is excited about the audience-choice nights. “I think it allows the audience to interact with the actors,” Conway says. “It’s a brilliant idea, because it empowers the audience, making them feel that the performance is specifically for them.”
Annabel Harb, 18, has spent four years with Faust and believes Shakespeare is more relevant now than ever. “Other than the tremendous impact he has had on the English language is the universality of his themes,” Harb says. “Many of his plays explore the role of family and honor, both of which are integral in Chinese culture as well. But it goes far beyond culture — Shylock’s desire for revenge, King Lear’s extreme grief — these are fundamentally human. His most poignant message is that we all reflect each other, whether we live in the fair city of Verona, or in Hong Kong.”