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Meet the Right Person at the Right Time  - Edward Lam's 30-year Creative Journey
GE2021-06
Meet the Right Person at the Right Time - Edward Lam's 30-year Creative Journey
對的時間遇見對的人 ——林奕華細說他的非常創作30年
時間,一分一秒的過;故事,一篇一章的累積;成長,一拐一跌的行進。
 
1991年林奕華離開「進念二十面體」,成立劇團「非常林奕華」。劇團以個人命名在香港少之又少,故此焦點都聚在「是否太自我」,卻忽略了更重要的形容詞,「非常」。
 
然而,當三十年六十多部作品成為歷史,時間來到2021年,「非常」原來才是劇團成立之初定下的精神標誌: 在一切被習以為常的模式與規範不再生效,創作之所以重要,便是因為它代表著創作人的理念,凡事不能只以單一和慣性的角度來面對。「非常」,就是重新思考什麼是「正常」,尤其當世界陷入「非常時期」,林奕華三十年來累績的經驗,便得到很大的發揮。
 
疫情影響,劇場關閉,校園關閉,「非常林奕華」便以「空」為主題創作了線上作品《人約吉場後》(與西九自由空間合作)與《一人有一個課室》(與香港大學CEDARS-GE合作)、當線上劇場以重放和讀劇為主,為誠品敦南店熄燈而作的《深夜書店之一千零一頁》連續三晚「直播」、原定今年五月推出改編楊德昌電影《一一》,因疫情導致不能赴台排演,後來改成《一個人的一一》,由兩位台灣演員來港完成,並為防再有生變,《一個人的一一》分開有映畫版與劇場版,兩者由形式到觀賞意義完全不同。近期的實驗作品還有《寶玉你好》,把演出場地的「自由空間」裝置成不設座位和只有七十五分鐘的「一個人的大觀園」,以及以三對跨世代女演員進行交流的錄像作品 《分享》。
 
林奕華的創作生涯始於初中階段,十四歲投稿報章,十五歲當訪問記者,十六歲為電視台寫劇本,十八歲簽約無線創作組,二十歲明白電視不是他的興趣,就在這時候,他認識了剛從美回港的漫畫家、前衛劇場導演、實驗電影師榮念曾。兩年後,「進念二十面體」成立。
 
從1982到1987,林奕華是「進念」核心成員,1987至1990他先後在英國、德國遊學,1990至1995旅居倫敦,在當地發表了兩部作品,其中一部更獲栢克萊銀行頒發獎金。本來打算留在倫敦發展的他,卻因1995年應香港藝術節委約創作而從此扎根香港。
 
可見林奕華把戲劇創作視為「非常任務」有它的遠因和近果:不論何時何地,他都維持「他者」的視角和思維。
 
林奕華對於「邊陲」的信念,很多來自他在創作生涯裏遇到的人。在電視台的年代,他給個人風格強烈的甘國亮編劇。跟隨老師榮念曾後,有機會認識電影導演楊德昌。九十年代,他給「女性電影導演」關錦鵬編劇。2007年,他和張艾嘉開始了之後十年三部舞台劇的合作。這些相遇,都在林奕華的「非常」路上烙下標誌。他的感恩語是,「對的時間遇上對的人」。
 
客觀上明明「不對」,但主觀的「對」卻能改寫其中的意義。林奕華相信人生必須要有故事,藉疫情尙未過去的「非常日子」,他準備以好些「非常邂逅」跟大家分享「為什麼創作如此重要」: 時間與人都要「對」,都是由敢於「不對」開始!

Programme description in English: http://www.cedars.hku.hk/ge/res/2021-22Sem1/06_MeettheRightPerson_Eng.pdf

▍「非常林奕華」劇場作品選映 Screening of Edward Lam’s Theatre Works
日期Dates: 18/9 & 25/9 (Sat)
時間Time: 14:30-18:30
地點Venue: CBC, Chow Yei Ching Building, HKU
Language: Cantonese/Mandarin with Chinese Subtitles
#1  (18/9)
 │ 梁祝的繼承者們 Art  School Musical
#2 (25/9) │ 聊齋 Why We Chat

Registration:
1. In-person Enrolment (Starts at 10am, 8/9 onwards, at MB240)
2. Online Registration (starts at 10am, 9/9 onwards):

For HKU students and staff - https://hkuems1.hku.hk/hkuems/ec_hdetail.aspx?ueid=77655 

▍分享講座 Talks
日期Dates: 30/9, 7/10, 21/10, 28/10 (Thu)
時間Time: 18:45-20:45
地點Venue: MWT4, LE1 & CPD-1.24, HKU
Language: Cantonese (simultaneous interpretation will be provided upon request by 23/9)
#1 (30/9) │ MWT4 │ 1991-1999 舞蹈與青年劇場之間的轉化 The transformation between dance and youth theatre
#2 (7/10) │ LE1 │ 2000-2001 教育與教慾劇場提出的問號 Questions raised by the theatre of education and desire
#3 (21/10) │ CPD-1.24│ 2002-2018 名著的智慧與明星的娛樂在劇場的相遇 The encounter of the wisdom of the masterpiece and the entertainment of the stars in the theatre ***updated venue***
#4 (28/10) │CPD-1.24│2020之後 「非常」與實驗,「(每)一個人」與創作在劇場的未來 "Atypical" and experimental; "(Every)one and the future of creation in theatre


Registration:
1. In-person Enrolment (Starts at 10am, 8/9 onwards, at MB240)
2. Online Registration (starts at 10am, 9/9 onwards):

For HKU students and staff - https://hkuems1.hku.hk/hkuems/ec_hdetail.aspx?ueid=77657 
Lecture 講座 (18 Sep 2021)
時間,一分一秒的過;故事,一篇一章的累積;成長,一拐一跌的行進。
 
1991年林奕華離開「進念二十面體」,成立劇團「非常林奕華」。劇團以個人命名在香港少之又少,故此焦點都聚在「是否太自我」,卻忽略了更重要的形容詞,「非常」。
然而,當三十年六十多部作品成為歷史,時間來到2021年,「非常」原來才是劇團成立之初定下的精神標誌: 在一切被習以為常的模式與規範不再生效,創作之所以重要,便是因為它代表著創作人的理念,凡事不能只以單一和慣性的角度來面對。「非常」,就是重新思考什麼是「正常」,尤其當世界陷入「非常時期」,林奕華三十年來累績的經驗,便得到很大的發揮。

林奕華對於「邊陲」的信念,很多來自他在創作生涯裏遇到的人。在電視台的年代,他給個人風格強烈的甘國亮編劇。跟隨老師榮念曾後,有機會認識電影導演楊德昌。九十年代,他給「女性電影導演」關錦鵬編劇。2007年,他和張艾嘉開始了之後十年三部舞台劇的合作。這些相遇,都在林奕華的「非常」路上烙下標誌。他的感恩語是,「對的時間遇上對的人」。
 
客觀上明明「不對」,但主觀的「對」卻能改寫其中的意義。林奕華相信人生必須要有故事,藉疫情尙未過去的「非常日子」,他準備以好些「非常邂逅」跟大家分享「為什麼創作如此重要」: 時間與人都要「對」,都是由敢於「不對」開始!

Edward Lam, Artistic Director and Theatre Director of Edward Lam Dance Theatre, established the “非常林奕華 Edward Lam Dance Theatre” (literal translation, “Atypical Edward Lam”) after he left Zuni Icosahedron in 1991. Since then, he has devoted himself to theatre and directed more than 60 original works. It is rare to name a theatre group after an individual, but the focus should be on the adjective “atypical”; which is the spirit of the theatre group.

Creation is important as it represents the idea of the creator, and we should not view things from a single and passive perspective. We need to rethink our definition of "normal", especially when the world falls into an "extraordinary period." Edward Lam’s 30 years of accumulated experience has been of great influence in his works.

Edward has met many people on his creative journey, including Hong Kong scriptwriter, Kam Kwok-leung; his mentor, Danny Yung, Taiwanese director, Edward Yang, Hong Kong film director, Stanley Kwan, and Taiwanese actress, Sylvia Chang Ai-chia. All these encounters have led Edward along a very different path. He is always thankful for meeting the right person at the right time. Edward believes that life must have a story. In this unusual period of time, he has prepared some unusual encounters to share with you that might illuminate why creation is so important – meeting the right person at the right time can start from the “wrong” one!

Edward Lam’s works during COVID-19:
「非常林奕華」劇場作品選映 Screening of Edward Lam’s Theatre Works
Dates: 18/9 & 25/9/2021 (Sat)
Time: 14:30-18:30
Venue: CBC, Chow Yei Ching Building, HKU
Language: Cantonese/Mandarin with Chinese Subtitles
#1 (18/9)│梁祝的繼承者們 Art School Musical
#2 (25/9)│TBC

Dates: 30/9, 7/10, 21/10, 28/10/2021 (Thu)
Time: 18:45-20:45
Venue: MWT4, LE1 & CPD-1.24, HKU
Language: Cantonese (simultaneous interpretation will be provided upon request by 23/9)

Registration (HKU students and staff):
https://hkuems1.hku.hk/hkuems/ec_hdetail.aspx?ueid=77657 

Speaker: Mr. Edward Lam 林奕華先生
Artistic Director and Theatre Director of Edward Lam Dance Theatre
「非常林奕華」藝術總監,劇場導演

For full version of the course description, please refer to https://www.cedars.hku.hk/ge/programme/detail?id=748
Speaker(s) 講師: Mr. Edward Lam 林奕華先生

Schedule:
Date Time Venue
18 Sep 2021 14:30 - 18:30 CBC, Chow Yei Ching Building
25 Sep 2021 14:30 - 18:30 CBC, Chow Yei Ching Building
30 Sep 2021 18:45 - 20:45 MWT4, Meng Wah Complex
07 Oct 2021 18:45 - 20:45 LE1, Library Extension
21 Oct 2021 18:45 - 20:45 CPD-1.24, 1/F Run Run Shaw Tower, Centennial Campus
28 Oct 2021 18:45 - 20:45 CPD-1.24, 1/F 1/F Run Run Shaw Tower, Centennial Campus
Bio of Instructor(s) 導師簡介:

Mr. Edward Lam 
林奕華先生

「非常林奕華」藝術總監,劇場導演。至今編導六十一齣原創作品。香港藝術發展獎藝術家年獎(戲劇)得主,並分別憑《男人與女人之戰爭與和平》、《紅娘的異想世界之在西廂》、《紅樓夢》三獲上海現代戲劇谷「壹戲劇大賞」年度最佳導演獎。二零一六年台灣《PAR表演藝術》雜誌出版第一本研究林奕華導演作品的著作《Who’s Afraid of 林奕華:在劇場,與禁忌玩遊戲》(徐硯美著)。一九九七年開始主持通識課程。

Artistic Director and Theatre Director of Edward Lam Dance Theatre, Lam founded Zuni Icosahedron with friends in the early 1980s, and established Edward Lam Dance Theatre during his residence in London (1989 to 1995). Since returning to Hong Kong in 1995, he has devoted himself to the theatre and has directed 58 original works. Lam was awarded “Best Director” at “Modern Drama Valley’s One Drama Awards” for his works, Men and Women, War and Peace (2010), The Doppelgänger (2012), and What is Sex (2017), and was named “Artist of the Year” (Theatre) by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council in 2017. His musical theatre piece, Art School Musical (2014) has toured over a dozen cities in Asia, and had its fourth rerun in Hong Kong at Freespace in October 2019.

Books of Lam’s collected essays include Waiting For Hong Kong, The Meaning Of Entertainment, Evil But Glamorous, My TV
Dinner Years, and Leading Ladies In The Mandarin Cinema. Who Is Afraid Of Edward Lam, Alexander Hsu’s analysis of Lam’s stage works from 2006 to 2015, was published by Performing Arts Review in Taiwan (2016).