Much Ado to Do
Weeks ago, when associate features editor Zabrina Lo pitched a story on a new version of being developed by the Hong Kong Ballet, my initial response was to ask: why on earth would they bother?
With theatres darkened and cultural performances cancelled around the world, we’ve practically given up on trying to put together an events calendar here at
Even our original idea to produce a sports-themed issue this month had to be scrapped once the Tokyo Olympics were postponed to 2021. And with social distancing regulations still in effect, it seemed awfully risky to write about a production that had already been postponed twice and might never see an audience (the show, updated as is a vivid reimagining of Shakespeare’s famous play, transported from fair Verona to lurid 1960s Hong Kong by the unbridled imagination of artistic director Septime Webre).
But Lo, in her reporting, discovered a message of resilience that I think will resonate with many readers, even those with passing interest in dance, particularly at a moment when we are all searching for inspiration and meaning in our lives. Despite having to practise exercises over Zoom or rehearse while wearing face masks, Webre and the troupe never once considered giving up. Sure, it’s possible the curtain may never rise on this production. But the show, as they say, must go on.
“It’s the journey that is important, more so than the destination,” Webre says in the feature, which is illustrated by photographer Amanda Kho’s equally dynamic portraits. “The process of creating work is central to an artist’s identity.”
Stories like these remind us of the power we gain from simply having a purpose and sharing it with the world. Throughout this issue you will find not only incredible athletes, including ballet dancers (the Hong Kong Ballet stars also appear in a special fashion shoot this month), a professional golfer, a long-distance swimmer and a Hong Kong esports champion who goes by the handle of “Hotdog29”, but also the graphic designer and artist Alan Chan, whose passion for collecting is so boundless that he has given his overflow of wonders a pop-up museum of their own. This month’s Hot List brings this point home most poignantly with a dozen examples of people who have overcome adversity to achieve amazing feats—a paraplegic who scaled a mountain using only his arms, a concert pianist who has won numerous competitions despite losing most of his hearing—giving us some perspective on just how far we can still go while navigating a world that seems out of control.
Speaking of which, if you’re still thinking about making an escape, look no further than lifestyle editor Coco Marett’s travel story, which examines pretty much every conceivable option for getting to space, how much it will cost and how soon we can expect to get there, maybe even next year. Until then, I’m looking forward to the September opening of