Taikoo Place and Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation Co-Present “PROJECT AFTER 6: Mou Man Tai”, an Original Musical Comedy Staged at ArtisTree in June

Starring 33 working professionals who reveal their hidden talents in telling unique Hong Kong stories

When you think of Hong Kong, what comes to mind after skyscrapers, dim sum and the harbour? “Mou5 man6 tai4” is a colloquial Cantonese term that translates as “sure, no problem!” – a popular phrase that encapsulates the can-do spirit hardwired into Hongkongers which helps to make the city such an inspiring place to be.

This intangible quality is being brought to the stage in Taikoo Place’s latest musical production in collaboration with the Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation (HKYAF). Presented in English, “PROJECT AFTER 6: Mou Man Tai” will be staged from 16th to 24th June 2023 at ArtisTree – the unique venue for visual and performing arts in the heart of Taikoo Place.

“PROJECT AFTER 6: Mou Man Tai” is a concept musical built around the minutiae of everyday Hong Kong life that showcases the love-hate sentiment Hongkongers feel towards their city. The musical is filled with humorous personalities and their sometimes-complex relationships, including the ambiguous chemistry between “madams” and their domestic helpers, the overly idolised “super tutors” whose images appear on the back of the city’s buses, and many more.

The all-new show is written and directed by Lindsey McAlister, founder of the HKYAF and the creative mastermind behind its successful predecessor, “PROJECT AFTER 6: Cube Culture”, a musical about local office culture staged in 2018. Mou Man Tai features 33 executives from in and around Taikoo Place who have been carefully handpicked through an open call with over 500 applicants in December 2021. Coming from different business sectors, the cast will bring their diverse cultural backgrounds, life experiences and passion for acting onto the stage this June.

The latest musical features 14 original songs penned by the highly sought-after Nick Harvey, a BAFTA and Emmy award-winning composer, as well as the “East meets West” stage setting and costumes designed by Marsha Roddy, who drew inspiration from uniquely Hong Kong elements such as iconic chinoiserie porcelain patterns and other details that will be sure to surprise the audiences.

Don Taylor, Swire Properties’ Director who oversees the office portfolio. said: “We are delighted to work with the Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation once again to present a brand-new PROJECT AFTER 6 production, forming an important part of our long-term placemaking efforts tailored for our office community. Through creative platforms such as ArtisTree and PROJECT AFTER 6, we strive to make arts and culture a part of people’s everyday lives. With the great support of our partners, including our office tenants and the Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation, we look forward to presenting more programmes for the audience’s enjoyment.”

Lindsey McAlister, the director and playwright of Mou Man Tai, said, “The initial idea of the show was to create something that arouses audiences’ collective memories with the most local Hong Kong sentiments and iconic scenes from our daily lives. We hope to cheer Hong Kong up with this light-hearted comedy after three years of pandemic. Whether you are a local or an expat, when you come to see the show, you will definitely be chuckling.”

PROJECT AFTER 6 is a pioneer tenant engagement programme launched by Swire Properties in 2014 with the aim of creating a platform to facilitate the Taikoo Place office community’s pursuit of a better work-life balance and redefine what a sustainable commercial complex should look like. From live busking and a capella performance to musical theatre masterclasses, the programme has been tapping into different art forms over the past nine years to encourage working professionals to explore their passion outside of the workplace. The programme has engaged more than 1,300 talented office workers in Taikoo Place since its launch.

This year’s “Mou Man Tai” musical provides a rare opportunity for working professionals to experience the thrill of participating in the performing arts. It will take them on a journey from understanding the fundamentals of theatre performance, receiving weekly vocal lessons, learning challenging routines that combine singing, dancing, and acting to finally unleashing their hidden talent on a professional stage. In developing such an extensive art programme, Swire Properties hopes to inspire and empower other forward-thinking companies to support the cultivation of the arts and their employees’ well-being.

Tickets for the show will be available from 18th May 2023. More information can be found at https://bit.ly/3nPZo4S.