Xiqu

Renowned Cantonese Opera artist Sun Kim Long has long been an educator of Cantonese Opera, promoting Cantonese Opera in schools. The artist has designed a Cantonese Opera education programme centering around the Cantonese Opera classic, Princess Cheung Ping. This programme aims to enhance the students’ ability to appreciate Cantonese Opera as well as to stimulate their interest in the art form. The programme includes pre-performance demonstration workshop and performance cum post-performance discussion.

Performance Content
At the end of the Ming dynasty, during the reign of Emperor Sung Ching, the country is faced with worsening domestic trouble and foreign invasions. The talented Princess Cheung Ping is yet to identify a husband. Minister Chow Chung presents the Princess with Chow Sai-hin, who manages to move Cheung Ping with his wise words and sincerity. Sung Ching confers the title of the Emperor’s Son-in-law to Sai-hin. Invaders capture the imperial city before Cheung Ping and Sai-hin could tie the knot. Sung Ching grants all his consorts death and tries to slay Cheung Ping with his sword. Chow Chung saves the Princess, who slowly recovers after receiving good care from Chow. Chow Chung and Po-lun want to present Cheung Ping to the new Qing emperor for advancing their careers as government officials. Cheung Ping gets help from Chow Sui-lan, who makes arrangement for Cheung Ping to live in seclusion at Wai Mo Nunnery. One year later, Sai-hin meets Cheung Ping outside the Nunnery. He begs for her reunion a number of times, and is finally reunites with Cheung Ping after promising to die for love and for the country with her.

Sai-hin unveils to Cheung Ping his plan to pretend to surrender to Qing. The Princess writes a letter to the Qing emperor in tears, asking him to give his father a grand burial and to release the former crown prince. To pacify the ministers of the last dynasty, the Qing emperor has no choice but to keep his words. In the end, Princess Cheung Ping and Sai-hin exchange their vows under a camphor tree before taking their own lives to commemorate their fallen country. Songs from the heaven are heard as the couple departs the mortal world. They become the golden couple and are taken to heaven. Chow Chung and Po-lun are ashamed of themselves and ask to be excused from official duties to return to their hometown.