The Legend of Mulan in London
Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre
Synopsis
The Hong Kong Dance Company staged the UK premiere of its signature dance drama The Legend of Mulan at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre in London, following its well-received tours to New York and Sydney. The performance is an accredited event celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, sponsored and supported by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London. This is an exclusive performance of the time-honoured folktale about love, peace and virtue.
Mulan is a legendary figure from ancient China who was originally presented in a Chinese poem known as the Ballad of Mulan dating to the fifth century. Mulan, a peasant girl, disguised herself as a man to join the army in place of her aged father. She fought for a decade and gained much respect. She gave up a position at court and retired to her hometown instead. Mulan shows extraordinary courage when it comes to protecting her country and family. A heroine with moral courage and intelligence, Mulan’s exceptional wisdom and vision transcend fame and fortune. Over time, the unusual adventures and touching story of Mulan rose in popularity as a folktale and became widely taught in schools. It has also inspired a number of screen and stage adaptations, including the hit animated Disney movie released in 1998.
The Legend of Mulan received two Hong Kong Dance Awards in 2014 for Outstanding Production and Outstanding Ensemble Performance for its spectacular dancing featuring “thrilling battle scenes balanced by a touching portrayal of Mulan’s relationship with her father”.
Other Tours
The Legend of Mulan has also toured to other destinations, including:
5 - 8 March 2015 at David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, New York
17 - 19 September 2015 at The Concourse Theatre Chatswood, Sydney
21 - 22 June 2019 The Belarusian State Academic Musical Theatre, Minsk
Production & Artistic Team
Director & Choreographer：
Yang Yuntao
Associate Choreographer：
Xie Yin
Playwright：
Gerard CC Tsang
Music Director & Composer：
Matthew Ma
Set Designer：
Yuen Hon-wai
Costume Designer：
Karin Chiu
Lighting Designer：
Yeung Tsz-yan
Digital Image Designer：
John Wong