Spotlight on YAFies: Cast of Standard Chartered Arts in the Park 2021 Storytelling Theatre “Peter Pan” (Cantonese)

Cast of Standard Chartered Arts in the Park 2021 Storytelling Theatre “Peter Pan” (Cantonese)
Boaz Chan, King Wong, Onnie Chan

What made you want to be an actor?
​Boaz:
I feel very blessed and lucky that ever since I was 13 and did my first performance on stage at school, I’ve known in my heart that I wanted to be an actor. The feeling of performing on stage is absolutely wonderful. It creates a world where you can become someone else, anyone else, the possibilities are unlimited. The characters we portray might be fictional, but the feelings we express are real and genuine. This makes theatre such a charismatic art form. It connects the real and fictional worlds, just like Neverland in Peter Pan.
King:
Being a performer, I can be the pilot of the audience’s imagination. Guiding adults and kids around a magical world, roaming between reality and fantasy.
Onnie:
I think it’s because I’m very curious about the world. I hope to understand it better by playing different characters.

What does it take to become a good actor?
Boaz:
Persistence, humility, the ability to learn fast, plus being able to think critically and have independent opinions.
King:
It’s essential to balance playfulness and discipline. If you’re too playful, your work can become too loose. And if you’re too disciplined, or try to control everything, the job can become very boring. So you need to find a balance!
Onnie:
You need to be rich in imagination, have a strong sense of empathy and an adventurous spirit. Being an actor is a fun occupation where new things happen every day. When you’re portraying a character, it’s essential to fully imagine yourself in the character’s situation. That way you can create a believable and soul-touching performance.

Who is your favourite character in Peter Pan?
Boaz:
The mermaids. Who doesn’t like a mermaid?
King: 
Peter Pan, no doubt! His ability to fly anywhere like a bird puts a smile on my face.
Onnie:
Wendy. Although she’s adventurous, she never forgets about home. She is also very caring towards her brothers and new friends. She’s a loving character.

If you had the choice, would you like to stay young forever in Neverland, or fly back to the real world?
Boaz:
Like I said, working in the theatre, I think I’m already living in real and fictional worlds at the same time!
King:
Though Neverland would be very tempting, I’d still prefer the real world. There’s still so much to explore here. Although there’s also sadness, it highlights the beauty of happiness.
Onnie:
I’d fly back to the real world. No matter how colourful life in Neverland is, I’d get bored one day. I think the only way to appreciate the beauty of life is by growing up in the real world.

If you had pixie dust and could fly to any corner of the world, where would you go?
Boaz:
To Broadway. To watch a lot of musicals!
King:
To Italy. Who doesn't love a good dish of pasta or risotto?
Onnie:
To Hawaii. I love the sunshine and the beaches. And so I can dance freely.

Which part of Standard Chartered Arts in the Park do you like the most?
Boaz:
The Storytelling Theatre of course! I heard the actors are great! King: I love the parade most. It’s fun and exciting. It’s also the climax of the whole event. You could take thousands of pictures and still feel like you missed something.
King: 
I love the puppet showcase most. It’s fun and exciting. It’s also the climax of the whole event. You could take thousands of pictures and still feel like you missed something.
Onnie:
The Storytelling Theatre. The performers are fun and lively. It’s the best way to spend a happy, relaxed afternoon. As part of the artist group Banan Effect, you were once the creator and puppeteer of a giant puppet for Standard Chartered Arts in the Park.

What was your biggest challenge during the process and how did you overcome it?
King:
All the outdoor environmental factors – the width of the roads, the height of trees and signboards, the changing levels of brightness along the path, the wind, things like that. These factors are unpredictable and unavoidable and have a tremendous effect on the performance. For this reason, we took our giant puppet to different locations to try it out and experiment. We dealt with the challenges and problems one by one, hoping we could accumulate enough experience to give the best performance to the crowd.

Do you have any advice for young people who are passionate about performing arts?
Boaz:
Keep practising your craft and keep learning new skills.
King:
Train yourself and trust your imagination.
Onnie:
Besides being passionate, you also need to be humble.