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The members of Summer Camp team mainly consist of girls, so it is necessary to employ “cross-gender acting”, according to Dr Oliver Lo, Director.

KWIH continued to sponsor the Opera Hong Kong (OHK) Summer Camp, which assembles children and teenagers aged 5 to 18 with musical potential for three weeks of intensive vocal and acting trainings. This year, the Summer Camp staged The Music Man Jr., at the Hong Kong Arts Centre towards the end of summer.

 

Intensive rehearsals for the participants at the Summer Camp culminate in a public performance at the Hong Kong Arts Centre.

 

  

 

Children and teenagers aged 5 to 18 with musical potential are recruited for three weeks of intensive chorus trainings and drama practices.

Considerable imagination and acting skills are required for one to identify himself with his role in an opera or musical. “Cross-gender acting”, namely, portraying the role of the opposite gender, would be even more demanding. As the majority of the participants in this year’s OHK Summer Camp were girls, it became necessary to employ “cross-gender acting”. According to Dr Oliver Lo, Director, “cross-gender acting” has been a longstanding tradition in opera since the era of Shakespeare in the 17th century. It was not until the 19th century when women were allowed to play in operas. Dr Lo is pleased that, under his direction and the guidance of other instructors, the young actresses successfully overcame the challenge in “cross-gender roles”, bidding goodbye to their true selves for the time to thoroughly enjoy the magic in musical.

 

“In my third enrolment with the summer camp, I don't mind cross-gender acting at all as I thoroughly enjoy the challenge,” said Wing.

 

“I need to think and imagine before playing a man-role, because every move in my act has to be as masculine as possible. The Summer Camp has taught me a lot about the importance of team work, so I don’t want to ruin the show because of my fault,” said Jasmine.

 

“I have a soft tone, so the instructor taught me to adjust my voice when reading my lines in “cross-gender acting”. In this way, my acting became more vivid, and my confidence was also greatly enhanced as a result,” said Stephanie.