Songs of Innocence and Experience: Young Actors Explore Growing Up and Share Their Stories on Stage
Can shedding one's innocence and passion be a necessary stage of growth for emerging youth? A group of students and graduates from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts draws inspiration from the famous epic "Paradise Lost" by the English poet John Milton, combining their personal growth stories with themes of the meaning of life, aging, illness, and free will on stage.
Using the Poetic Framework as a Lens
"Songs of Innocence and Experience" premiered in 2022 as an internal production and has returned this year for a public performance in the West Kowloon Cultural District after being reworked. Through the creative method of "Devising Theatre," video projections, live performances of hymns by a band, anime theme songs, and original music, the devising actors recreate not only classic excerpts from "Paradise Lost," but also intersperse their reflections on personal growth and social environments during scene transitions, presenting a state of unease regarding societal changes.
The work primarily uses "Paradise Lost" and Milton's writing process for "Areopagitica" as its framework, borrowing the title "Songs of Innocence and Experience."
The performance is divided into three parts: Milton's story, the actors reenacting portions of "Paradise Lost," and the actors narrating their own stories. In contrast to the original poem's juxtaposition of "Songs of Innocence" and "Songs of Experience," the script adopts a similar approach by contrasting the actors with their characters, arranging roles based on the actors' traits, perspectives, and similarities to their characters.
Actors Share Their Personal Stories on Stage
In the nearly two-hour performance, accompanied by passionate music, the actors pose questions to the audience about what it means to grow up, introducing themes of life’s meaning, aging, illness, and death. In one segment, 16 actors are sequentially brought to the center of the stage, spotlighted as they express their true feelings.
To recreate the scenes from rehearsals, the actors sit in a circle at the center of the stage, while real-time footage of their rehearsal discussions plays in the background.
"Should I stay or should I go?" is a question many Hongkongers grapple with and a topic of discussion among the actors. One actor candidly states, "I don’t know; this place is changing a lot, and it feels very oppressive for an individual." Another asserts that they will not emigrate until their parents pass away, while someone else hopes to move to the UK with their partner in a few years, despite their partner wanting to stay in Hong Kong for career development. When the discussion shifts to imprisonment, the third actor shares somewhat helplessly, "There’s nothing I can do," leaving it at that to allow for reflection.
Just when one might think discussions about emigration and imprisonment have become outdated by 2024, the segments from "Paradise Lost" still resonate with the actors' sincere sharing.
The Reflective Fallen Angels
Returning to the text, Lucifer, played by Caroline Chan, constantly asks the other angels about free will, while Eve, who blindly follows God, is urged to think critically and ask "Why?" This leads them to explore their identities as independent beings and the significance of having free will. As the plot develops, Lucifer is ultimately seen by God as disobedient and is imprisoned in hell along with several angels, becoming a fallen angel. Faced with unjust totalitarian rule, they rebel angrily, raising purple flags and formally opposing God's side. In contrast, the angels aligned with God hold red flags emblazoned with "Holy," "Thunder," and "Force."
Actors Reflect on Their Previous Innocent Thoughts
After two years and a reworking of "Songs of Innocence and Experience," the actors have adjusted their sharing based on their experiences since graduation. Compared to the old version, actor Joseph Cheung admits that their thoughts were more naive back then, saying, "I had 80% of my beliefs I wanted to express and wanted to break through; now it’s only 40%, but I still don’t want to give up." Formerly a registered social worker, he performs original songs on stage, showcasing his sincere desire to help others.
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