Simon Chi Kuen Wu
Biography
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Born in Hong Kong, Simon Wu is an established member of the Hong Kong drama scene. He holds a BA Hons. in English Studies and Comparative Literature from the University of Hong Kong (1982-1985), with drama being the focus of these studies. For a number of years, Simon has been a theatre and dance critic for the Hong KongÕs leading English newspaper, The South China Morning Post, and a board member of The International Association of Theatre Critics (Hong Kong office). He was selected to be an official assessor (drama category) by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council with a term of one year starting from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999. Simon is also a prize-winning playwright. In 1990, he won the Caltex Drama Award for his play Wolf in the House, which was performed at the Hong Kong Arts Centre. In 1992, he was a finalist in the Hong Kong TV Times Radio Play Competition with a radio version of Wolf in the House. His radio play, Looking for Stones, co-written with Dino Mahoney, was chosen by RTHK Radio 4 (Radio Television Hong Kong) to represent Hong Kong in the Worldplay International Radio Drama Festival, broadcast in 1999 by RTHK and also the BBC World Service, CBA (Canadian Broadcasting Company) and ABC (Australian Broadcasting Company).
In 2006 his play, Wolf in the House, was short-listed for the Gate TheatreÕs Translation Award. Wolf in the House was also given a well-received public reading by the Yellow Earth Company at the Soho Theatre on 26th June 2006 and is currently being considered for a full production in 2007. He has also been commissioned by the BBC World Service to co-write a one hour China themed radio play entitled Bare Branches with Dino Mahoney, contract signed in August 2006.
Simon is a member of the Yellow Ink Workshop organized by the Yellow Earth Theatre Company based at the Soho Theatre a group dedicated to fostering East Asian playwrights.
SimonÕs translation work also includes a translation from English into Chinese of Alan BennettÕs comedy Habeas Corpus into Chinese which was used for a series of performances by the Energetic Family Company at the Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre, Hong Kong in 1991. He is also an actor, director and was, for a time, a drama teacher at the Po Leung Kuk Centenary College in Hong Kong. In 1985 he won the Urban Council Award in Creative Writing and in 1990, the British Council & Hong Kong University, Hong Kong Voices Creative Writing Competition. He has also presented a paper on contemporary Hong Kong theatre as part of the Hong Kong Drama Symposium organized by the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
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Excerpts
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LOOKING FOR STONES
(Ah Fai's Voice Over from the first Scene)
There were only a handful of us at my Aunt's funeral... my mother and father... my brother... a distant cousin that none of us had ever met before, and old Ah Ping who used to clean the lift and stairwell in the apartment block that my Aunt worked in... But we were enough... my Aunt wouldn't have wanted more... My Aunt... Ah Kin
I used to be terrified of her... we all were... I remember the horror I felt the day I learned I had to go and live with her... I would have happily given back my scholarship if it would have got me out of staying with her... But fate is fate... suddenly your little world goes dark and there you are in the belly of some great fish who swims and swims to a far distant shore before opening up his jaws and spitting you out again.
ELEPHANT CHESS
(White Queen's speech in Scene 14)
Thank you for granting me this audience My Lord. (Silence. The Queen takes a deep breath) All my life I have faithfully served youÉ fighting for youÉ dying for youÉ my every move has been to please and honour youÉ But after the recent earthquake I have realized how brief and fragile existence and that feeling has given me the strength come to you to-dayÉ (Trying to control herself)É to tell you how I feelÉ. insideÉ. about us. The last thing on earth I want to do is to hurt youÉ but I can no longer lie to either you or to myselfÉ (Deep breath) So it is with great sorrow and regret that I have to tell you that I love another. (Silence) I know inside your heart must be breakingÉ I can see the tears welling in your eyesÉ but far better to speak the truth than live a lieÉ The object of my affections is here waiting in the wings and I pray you will consent to see him. (Silence) Thank you my Lord. (She turns and beckons)
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Brief CV
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1991
Wolf in the House (Cantonese & English)Energetic Family Company, Hong Kong Fringe Festival, Sheung Wan Civic Centre, Hong Kong
1992
To Make Her His Wife (Cantonese)Co-written with John Chung & Eddie Shee, Seals Players Foundation Ltd.Festival 2000, Sheung Wan Civic Centre, Hong Kong
Of Men & Beasts (Cantonese)Energetic Family Company, Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre, Hong Kong
1993
No ManÕs Land (Cantonese)Co-written with Dino Mahoney, AC/DC Company, Sheung Wan Civic Centre, Hong Kong
1994
Of Men & Beasts (Cantonese)Tsuen Wan Youth Theatre, McAulay Studio, Hong Kong
1997
Of Men & Beast (Cantonese)Novice Theatre Company, Fringe Studio, Hong Kong
1999
Bugs (Cantonese)Wong Ka Chai, Rico Wu, La Cremeria Theatre, Hong Kong
Looking for Stones (English)Co-written with Dino Mahoney, Part of the Worldplay festival of radio drama, BBC World Service
The Soft Word (Cantonese)A video script designed for training health care workers in their handling of AIDS patients, commissioned by The Society for AIDS Care Hong Kong
2000
Mr. WuÕs File ø Missing Person (Cantonese)Bugs Company, McAulay Studio, Hong Kong
2002
Looking for Stones (English)Co-written with Dino Mahoney, Yellow Earth Theatre, Typhoon Festival I, Soho Theatre, London
2006
Wolf in the House(English)Yellow Earth Theatre, Public play reading, Soho Theatre, London
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Contact
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Email: wu_chi_kuen@hotmail.com
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