logo
‘The Impossible Trial' musical is coming back to the Hong Kong stage

‘The Impossible Trial' musical is coming back to the Hong Kong stage

Time Out26-05-2025

The award-winning musical The Impossible Trial is returning to Hong Kong audiences for its third run following a tour of mainland China. After gaining incredible momentum since its premiere in 2022, it's great to see the first original Cantonese musical commissioned by WestK being appreciated by a wider audience.
The slightly Scrooge-like plot follows Fong Tong-geng, a greedy corrupt barrister in Guangdong, who is dealt a huge blow when he suddenly loses all his wealth and reputation. Haunted by a resentful ghost, Fong tries to redeem himself by beginning to champion the common man in the magistracy. Its intricate storyline is underscored by a fantastic blend of musical styles, including Cantonese opera, 1920s Broadway tunes, ballads, classical, folk-pop, rock, and even nursery rhymes and Buddhist music.
Main cast members of The Impossible Trial include Hong Kong stars Lau Shau-ching, Jordan Cheng (last seen in the leading role of Hedwig and the Angry Inch), Tunes Ting, Clinton Zhang, and more. A total of 19 new faces have also been added to the roster for the upcoming performances in mainland China and Hong Kong.
Shanghai will be the musical's first port of call, followed by Beijing, after which the show will return to the Xiqu Centre in mid-August. Its third Hong Kong run will feature more than 10 performances, and ticketing details – including early-bird discount prices – will be announced soon. We'll update this space when we learn more, or you can keep an eye out for news on the WestK website.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Joe Jonas awkwardly tags along as a fifth wheel while joining brothers Nick and Kevin with their wives on a double date
Joe Jonas awkwardly tags along as a fifth wheel while joining brothers Nick and Kevin with their wives on a double date

Daily Mail​

time3 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

Joe Jonas awkwardly tags along as a fifth wheel while joining brothers Nick and Kevin with their wives on a double date

Joe Jonas stood out by himself as he tagged along for his brothers' Nick Jonas and Kevin Jonas ' double date with their respective wives. The 35-year-old singer was spotted solo while leaving Emilio's Ballato in NoHo alongside the loved-up couples. Kevin Jonas, 37, had his wife Danielle Jonas, 38, on his arm as they stepped out from the celebrity-frequented hotspot with their family members. They were also joined by Nick Jonas, 32, and his wife Priyanka Chopra, 42, putting on an adorable display as they walked hand-in-hand, striding with their group. The Jonas Brothers and their respective partners were celebrating Nick wrapping up his Broadway run of the beloved musical The Last Five Years. Their collective group outing comes after Joe flirted with another single star while his ex-wife Sophie Turner, 29, showed her support for him following their bitter divorce. For their outing, Joe appeared to be in bright spirits and had a cheeky grin on his face as he stepped out with his brothers and their respective wives. He looked relaxed and effortlessly stylish as he layered a brown blazer over a graphic T-shirt and light-wash jeans for his outfit. He also sported a dark baseball cap and leather loafers to complete his Cool Dad look. His older brother Kevin also went for a casual summer look for their dinner get-together as he sported a striped, linen button-down paired with straight-leg jeans and leather loafers. His wife Danielle went for a taupe, linen crop top and shorts set teamed with white strappy heels for their date night outfit. Their younger brother Nick changed from his stage outfit for a stylish, checkered suit paired with a graphic T-shirt and white sneakers. He also sported blue, tinted sunglasses for a fashionable accessory as they grabbed a late night dinner to celebrate his Broadway run. His wife Priyanka channeled old Hollywood glamour as she made the street her own runway as she modeled a red hot, halter dress. She paired the midi dress with black pumps and a chic updo. Their outing comes after Joe's ex-wife recently hinted at where she stands with him less than two years after their contentious separation. The couple had a Las Vegas wedding in 2019 and welcomed two daughters, Willa, four, and Delphine, two, over the course of their marriage. In September 2023, Joe filed for divorce, plunging the couple into a rancorous legal battle that played out dramatically in the headlines. Ultimately, they reached a legal settlement one year after Joe submitted court documents to dissolve their brief union. But in a recent Instagram post, Sophie has revealed how their equation has evolved by showing support for her ex-husband's new album. The Game of Thrones actress, shared an image of his new album, Music for People Who Believe in Love, on her Instagram Stories earlier last month. The couple had a Las Vegas wedding in 2019 and welcomed two daughters, Willa, four, and Delphine, two, over the course of their marriage. In September 2023, Joe filed for divorce, plunging the couple into a rancorous legal battle that played out dramatically in the headlines; pictured September 2022 in Toronto She captioned it, 'Go go @joejonas.' The album officially dropped on Friday, May 23. Up next, Joe and his brothers are preparing to kick off their upcoming tour as their band celebrates 20 years together. The siblings will travel to New Jersey on August 10 as the Jonas20: Greetings from Your Hometown Tour begins in their home state. The tour, which runs until November, will also be in support of the brothers' upcoming seventh studio album, Greetings from Your Hometown, which will be released on August 8.

Photograph: Supplied/Daniel Boud
Photograph: Supplied/Daniel Boud

Time Out

time16 hours ago

  • Time Out

Photograph: Supplied/Daniel Boud

In musical theatre circles, Cats is the show that everyone loves to hate, dismissing it as 'weird' and 'uncool'. So let me begin this review by stating that I love Cats. I listened to the cast recording over and over as a child, I met my best friend on a Cats mailing list (remember those?) when I was sixteen, and there's probably still some old Cats fanfiction floating around out there that I wrote in my teens. This much maligned show doesn't deserve the hate it gets. When Cats was first performed in the early 1980s, it was hailed as groundbreaking, bridging the gap between concept musicals and mega musicals in a way no show had done before. It won both Olivier and Tony awards for best musical, and ran for decades on the West End and Broadway. These days, it's viewed more as a 'guilty pleasure' – the show you secretly enjoy but are supposed to pretend you don't, lest you be seen as uncultured. But why? Concept musicals based around a theme rather than a traditional narrative have existed since the 1950s, with notable examples including Cabaret, Hair and Company. Dance-heavy musicals are also not a unique concept. Cats isn't even the only show to combine these two elements. But while shows like A Chorus Line and Pippin are hailed as iconic, Cats – which is essentially A Chorus Line with tails – is not shown the same love. Cats may not be too heavy on the plot, but it's a show for people who love the little details Much of the criticism surrounding Cats comes from wanting it to be something it isn't, instead of appreciating it for what it is; a visually spectacular, dance-heavy, surreal concept musical. And on that front, Australia's new 40th anniversary production well and truly delivers. Andrew Lloyd Webber is known to mess around with his shows, and thus, Cats has undergone some changes through the years – including the questionable hip-hop styled 'street cat' version of Rum Tum Tugger, who has thankfully been returned to his original Mick Jagger-esque rockstar form in this production (played with hip-swivelling panache by Des Flanagan). But much of the show remains true to its 1980s roots. This production, which celebrates the show's 40th Australian anniversary at Sydney's Theatre Royal (the very same venue where Cats made its Down Under debut all those years ago), retains the original set and makeup designs by John Napier, direction by Trevor Nunn (brought to life here by associate director and choreographer Chrissie Cartwright) and, most crucially, the choreography of Gillian Lynne. The choreo for this show is truly iconic, and as a lifelong Cats fan it was a joy to see it executed to such a high standard. In particular, Claudia Hastings (The Phantom of the Opera) as Victoria and French ballet dancer Axel Alvarez as Mr Mistoffelees (a role he has played in various international productions) expertly handle their challenging solo dances, garnering spontaneous cheers from the audience throughout the show on opening night. Other standouts are Jake O'Brien (West Side Story, & Juliet) and Savannah Lind (Hairspray, Chicago) as Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, performing their number with mischievous joy and impressive vocal control. Particularly impressive is Lind's ability to sing while cartwheeling. Playing Grizabella, Gabriyel Thomas (Sister Act the Musical, Hairspray) has the unenviable task of bringing something new to an iconic song that must be one of the most overdone in all of musical theatre canon. Her connection to the role shines through in her performance and her rendition of 'Memory' is deeply heartfelt and authentic. At its core, Cats is a true ensemble show which provides every performer a moment to shine. As a fan, much of the joy comes from the smaller moments that might not be noticed by more casual pundits. I loved looking out for Tantomile (Sarah Bourke) and Coricopat (Joshua Gordon) moving in unison, and watching the way Munkustrap (Jarrod Draper) protects the other cats and directs their performances during 'Pekes and the Pollicles'. I found myself delighted by the close relationship between Demeter (Olivia Carniato) and Bombalurina (Mia Dabkowski-Chandler), and the slightly antagonistic behaviour from Rum Tum Tugger (Flanagan) towards Munkustrap. Cat s may not be too heavy on the plot, but it's a show for people who love the little details. Every single moment tells us something new about the characters, and you could truly just choose one cat to watch for the entire performance and you'll be entertained the entire time. If you've never seen Cats before – or worse, if your only exposure was the disastrous 2019 film – let this production be your formal invitation to join the Jellicle Ball. The Australian 40th anniversary production of Cats is playing at the Sydney Theatre Royal until September 6, 2025, before embarking on a national tour. Find out more and book your tickets at

Jennifer Aniston reveals career 'bucket list' ambition... over a month after 'stalker' scare
Jennifer Aniston reveals career 'bucket list' ambition... over a month after 'stalker' scare

Daily Mail​

timea day ago

  • Daily Mail​

Jennifer Aniston reveals career 'bucket list' ambition... over a month after 'stalker' scare

She is best known for her role on one of the biggest sitcoms on TV, but Friends star Jennifer Aniston has now revealed her hopes to appear on another big stage. In an interview with People, the actress, 56, revealed her desire to perform on Broadway. 'I definitely want to do a Broadway play,' she told the outlet. 'That's on my bucket list.' The problem is, the actress, who has off-Broadway experience from her early career, needs time to focus on 'finding the right piece, the right material.' 'But I absolutely have to do a play on Broadway,' she stressed. The interview appears to be the first she has conducted since an alleged stalker trespassed into Aniston's home last month. The busy actress, who has done both TV and film, also admitted she is 'forcing' herself to take a break. 'I'm a bit of a workaholic, so I'm forcing myself to try to take some time to travel and not work,' she said. It comes a month after Aniston endured a major scare at her home. Last month, a man named Jimmy Wayne Carwyle allegedly trespassed onto Aniston's Bel-Air property by ramming through the front gates - with the actress being home at the time of the incident. He was arrested by LAPD officers after being apprehended by Aniston's own security team - but a subsequent ruling declared that Carwyle is mentally unfit to stand trial. 'He is not competent to stand trial so although I know it's not the outcome my client would have preferred at this time I would submit on those two reports,' public defender Robert Krauss informed the court during a hearing last month following a second analysis that concluded Carwyle was mentally unfit to continue with the case. Deputy District Attorney William Donovan said: 'The people will also submit.' And with that, Judge Cavalluzzi said from the bench, 'The court finds that the defendant is not presently competent to stand trial. Criminal proceedings are suspended.' An 'interest of justice' hearing was scheduled for June 26 when Aniston or her attorney Blair Berk will be able to provide impact statements. A more detailed report on Carwyle will be compiled by independent analyst Dr. Tumu at a cost of $1,100 to determine how to proceed with treatment for him. Carwyle was arrested by LAPD officers on May 5 after ramming his car into the front gates of the Friends star's breathtaking $21 million hilltop Bel-Air home. Prosecutors say Carwyle 'repeatedly' harassed Aniston between March 1, 2023 to May 5, 2025, sending her 'unwanted social media, voicemail, and email messages.' In addition to stalking and vandalism charges, Carwyle was facing a charge for aggravating the threat of great bodily harm.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store