300 Children Welcome Back Captain Smiley in MTR X HKRep Community Performances

Aug. 13, 2012 - PRLog -- Captain Smiley battled the Evil Pouting Alien at Sheung Wan Civic Centre - HKRep Black Box Theatre today (12 August 2012) in a series of community performances that utilises interactive drama to promote safe and courteous behaviour in the MTR.

The summer performances kicked off a second season of the MTR X Hong Kong Repertory Theatre: Master of Railway Safety School Tour which tells the story of how a Hong Kong boy helps the stranded fighter from outerspace, Captain Smiley, to get home by showing him how to take the MTR in a safe and proper manner.

"Hong Kong Repertory Theatre (HKRep) has put together a fantastic production that weaves in humour and suspense to promote railway safety like it's never been done before. We are delighted by the good reviews from students, teachers and parents alike after we launched the programme last year," said Mr Jay Walder, Chief Executive Officer of MTR Corporation. "In extending the Tour for another year, we want to widen the audience to community groups this summer and kindergartens in the autumn so that more children can enjoy this amazing drama while learning, from a young age, the importance of safe and courteous behaviour when taking the MTR."

More than 300 children from the Po Leung Kuk and other family groups from Tung Chung and Tin Shui Wai were among those who enjoyed three community performances today. Three more will be held on 25 August 2012.

“It’s my honour to be invited to today’s community performance by MTR and HKRep.  Through this interactive play, I’m sure children will easily understand the important safety knowledge and courteous behaviour when taking the MTR,” said Ms Jacqueline P C Leung, Chairman of the Board of Directors 2012-13 of Po Leung Kuk who was among the officiating guests at today's kick off ceremony.  "I applaud HKRep and MTR for their innovation and I support more of this type of activity to be organised for the benefit of the community."

Sponsored by MTR Corporation, MTR X Hong Kong Repertory Theatre: Master of Railway Safety School Tour was presented for free to 20,000 students at 50 primary schools in the last school year. After seeing the show, children were invited to film a video on what they had learned. Prizes for the top three submissions from Good Counsel Catholic Primary School, P.L.K. Dr. Jimmy Wong Chi-Ho (Tin Sum Valley) Primary School and P.L.K. Wong Wing Shu Primary School were presented today.

For the 2012-13 academic year, the Tour will again stop in at 50 primary schools. It will also be adapted as a specially designed interactive story-telling session for a tour of 30 kindergartens to teach an even younger audience about railway safety.

“Outreach and education is the key mission at HKRep. Through this production, we not only entertain and educate children but also help them to develop a wide range of skills and raise the community’s awareness of theatre arts," said Mr David Mong, Vice-Chairman and Chairman of Marketing Committee of HKRep.

Primary schools and kindergartens interested in a MTR X Hong Kong Repertory Theatre: Master of Railway Safety School Tour performance can obtain more details by contacting HKRep at 3103 5911 (Ms Yum).  They can also visit the MTR or HKRep website: www.mtr.com.hk / www.hkrep.com.