Name: Xiqu Centre Freespace, West Kowloon: Tang Shu-wing x Mung Bean x Juno Mak in 'Bhagavad Gita' – a stunning restaging in 2025 with a fresh new cast and awe-inspiring all-round performance
Start: 2025-06-20
End: 2025-06-29
Location: Xiqu Centre Freespace, West Kowloon

Description

Premiered in 2023 and hailed as 'one of the most thought-provoking Hong Kong stage performances', 'Bhagavad Gita' returns to Xiqu Centre this June. Starring award-winning actress Mung Bean and renowned singer-songwriter-actor Juno Mak, this rare collaboration with renowned director Tang Shu-wing brings a fresh new perspective to the production. Mung Bean and Juno Mak take on the role of storytellers, conveying the entire narrative through their performance, including the epic tale and its philosophical underpinnings, as well as incorporating physical theatre, music, song, and drama – a true tour de force.

The demanding nature of the roles, especially for the male lead, made casting a challenging task. Tang Shu-wing sought an actor with theatre experience and the ability to act, play an instrument, and sing. The search led him to Juno Mak, as if echoing the core tenet of the 'Bhagavad Gita' – everyone has a unique place in the world, and the male storyteller could be none other than Juno Mak. A large part of the storytelling involves the god Krishna persuading the warrior Arjuna to join the battle of righteousness, conveying the philosophy that everyone has their own duty in life. This philosophy is not unfamiliar to Juno Mak, whose musical works often explore the themes of life and the universe:

'I am deeply convinced that everyone who comes to Earth has their own battlefield and mission. If I have a 'duty', I believe it is to share my experiences so that those who have encountered my work can find a glimmer of light and a sense of warmth in their moments of loneliness and darkness.'

Mung Bean's performance in the premiere received widespread acclaim, with critics praising her for bringing 'depth and substance to the stage, delivering her lines with a natural flow'. Her solo performance in a pool of water, a blend of poetry and dance, also left a lasting impression on the audience. Returning to the stage, Mung Bean faces even more intricate demands in terms of storytelling and physical theatre. In response to these challenges, she shares:

'In preparation for this performance, I am working hard to bring my physical, mental, and spiritual state to its best condition, maintaining an open mindset, and constantly trying out the various exercises given by the director to better understand the truths embodied in the text. 'Bhagavad Gita' has once again appeared in my life, marking both an adventure and a form of cultivation.'

The minimalistic yet stunning set design of 'Bhagavad Gita' won the 2023 IATC(HK) Critic Awards for Annual Technical Arts. This restaging will perfectly recreate the iconic opening and closing pool stage, while the physical theatre and dance performances will be even more tightly choreographed to reflect the urgency of our current situation. Compared to the premiere, the themes of war and the development of artificial intelligence have become even more pressing. Tang Shu-wing hopes that after the settling of the initial impact, the audience will find even more resonance and reflection in this restaging. To cater to a multilingual audience, two additional performances in English have been added, featuring Indian actress Muskkan Samtani and local rising star Pang Jor-yuen, marking the first time the play will be performed in multiple languages.

The performances will be held at the Xiqu Centre Freespace, West Kowloon, from 20 to 29 June 2025. Rehearsals will take place from May to June, and a pre-show sharing session will be held on 18 May. Media inquiries are welcome.

Pre-show sharing session: 'Bhagavad Gita' on Stage – Creation and Performance

Date: Sunday, 18 May 2025

Time: 3:00pm – 4:30pm (media interviews after the session)

Venue: The Shepherd Boy and His Floating Light (Tsim Sha Tsui)

Speakers: Tang Shu-wing, Mung Bean, and Juno Mak

Programme Information

20–29 June 2025 (10 performances)

Performance Schedule:

20–22 June 2025 (Fri–Sun)

24–27 June 2025 (Tue–Fri)

8:00pm

21–22 June 2025 (Sat–Sun)