Checkmate (dismissed Shanghai version)

CHECKMATE (dismissed Shanghai version) – A Go legend vanished in the Sino-Japanese War

Theatre Space will soon present the legend of go CHECKMATE (dismissed Shanghai version), which had been hot news in Hong Kong, in December 2014.

A story happened in Tokyo, 1937. A secret Chamber gathered the best 22 Go masters assigned by the Emperor of Japan inside the Military headquarters. Using the checkerboard as a virtual battlefield, the Go masters provided military suggestion to the imperial army on their invasion of China from the calculation & theories. Before the attack on Nanjing the decision was stuck, it was when Minoru Kitani was invited to become the twenty-third player. He met chess players, including the national grandmaster Shūsai Honinbou, the blood-thirsty commander Iwane Matsuzaka, the loyal Kouhei Inoue and the gentle servant Natsu. Inspired by the final phase of the Go game, Kitani, who was passionate and ambitious, gradually realizing the cruelty of war. Under the unprecedented impact he reflected a new the relationship between Go and the universe.

The Play was first performed in January 2014. A new version was prepared for a drama festival in Shanghai in late April and the play was invited to become the opening programme but was dismissed before opening. Book by Cheung Fei Fan, directed by Jacob Yu, Cast includes Ko Kai Cheung, Ben So Chong, Anna Lo, Anson Lam Pui Lim, Simon Yu Sai Tang, Billy Yip Hing Wah, Ivy Lau Ting Kwan and the musician Hui Lok.

CHECKMATE (in Cantonese) will be staged at 7:45pm on December 18 to 20, 2014 (Thursday to Saturday) and at 2:45pm on December 20 and 21, 2014(Saturday and Sunday) at Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre Theatre. Tickets priced at $300, $250 and $180 are now available at URBTIX outlets, on the Internet and by credit card telephone booking. Half-price tickets are available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and their minders, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients (limited tickets for CSSA recipients are available on a first-come, first-served basis). Please refer to programme leaflets for details of the group booking discount.

The programme contains violence scenes. For programme enquiries, please call 2540 1011 (Theatre Space) or visit website www.theatrespace.org. Ticketing enquiries can be made on 3761 6661 and credit card telephone bookings on 2111 5999. Tickets can also be booked online at www.urbtix.hk.

There will be “Guest refreshment” serving the audiences with $300 ticket after two matinee performances (2:45pm on December 20 and 21).