How many chance encounters are unforgettable throughout one’s life? If you have even a passing interest in musicals, you must have heard of ‘The King of Lawyers’! This original Cantonese musical, jointly produced by the West Kowloon Cultural District and the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, has been in the making for a decade. Initially previewed in 2019, it underwent three years of meticulous refinement before officially premiering in Hong Kong in two rounds during the 2022-2023 season, shining with dazzling brilliance! The performance not only caused a sensation in the industry and became a hot ticket, it was praised by audiences and media as ‘the light of Chinese-language musicals’, leaving many mainland drama enthusiasts regretful for missing it. On June 17, 2024, the Shanghai Cultural Plaza announced that the musical ‘The King of Lawyers’ would perform in mainland China – ‘Next year, today, the drums will beat and the gongs will sound!’ These eight words, though brief, stirred up a thousand waves, swiftly igniting people’s anticipation. Since its inception of the ‘Original Chinese Musical Showcase Season’ brand in 2012, the Shanghai Cultural Plaza has always upheld the promise of ‘selecting for you every spring’. As the first publicized performance for 2025, ‘The King of Lawyers’ will make its mainland stage debut. To this end, ‘The King of Lawyers’ is full of ambition, once again gathering the original cast, and coming with honors!
The musical ‘The King of Lawyers’ tells a legendary story about grievances and redemption: Fang Tangjing, the King of Lawyers from Guangdong, aided evil and committed many injustices, eventually attracting the attention of a vengeful ghost seeking his life. In order to save himself, Fang Tangjing is led by the ghost Ah Sai, to overturn the case for Ah Sai’s beloved, Xiuxiu, and the two, along with the ghost, embark on a journey… From hatred to forgiveness, this is precisely: correcting chaos and restoring order amidst a thousand difficulties, and self-redemption amidst ten thousand hardships! The original musical ‘The King of Lawyers’ swept ten awards at the 31st Hong Kong Drama Awards, including Best Production, Best Director, Best Original Music (Musical), Best Lyrics, Best Male and Female Lead, and Best Supporting Actor (Tragedy/Drama), among others. The golden combination of composer Gao Shi Zhang and lyricist Cen Weizong, along with Zhang Feifan’s unexpected text, and director Fang Junjie’s ingenious layout, have meticulously crafted a meaningful work. The play discusses the impermanence of life and death, and the difficulty of distinguishing between good and evil, with a plot that captures the heart. Choreographer and stage director Lin Junhao, and stage aesthetic director Huang Yijun, have infused the performance with a unique aesthetic that blends the classical and the modern.
Furthermore, the excellent actors who can sing, act, and dance have put their all into the performance, with each scene reaching a climax, leaving the audience in awe. The creative and performance team has been continuously improving over the years, and after a thousand trials and refinements, they have finally achieved a distinctive musical that has set a new milestone for Hong Kong’s original musicals and even Chinese-language original musicals. In 2023, at the ‘Performing Arts World Musical Trend List’, the musical ‘The King of Lawyers’ won the ‘Outstanding Musical of the Year’ award.
At the inaugural Ouyang Yuqian Drama Award ceremony held last week, the musical ‘The King’s Advocate’ stood out, leading with four nominations (Best Play, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Performance Design). It ultimately triumphed over strong competitors, winning the Best Play and Best Actor (Zheng Junchi) awards, once again demonstrating the audience and industry’s affirmation and love for ‘The King’s Advocate’. The show will be open from June 17th to June 22nd, with performance times and duration subject to the venue.
Musical ‘The King of Lawyers’ in Shanghai
How many chance encounters are unforgettable throughout one’s life? If you have even a passing[...]
