“The Golden Sabre” is written by Leslie Wong under the Arts Creation Fund Scheme of the National Arts Council. It has taken Leslie Wong a year to complete the script and another six months to rehearse. Directed by Joanna Wong, it is the biggest Cantonese Opera production by a homegrown arts company. The opera has 63 characters played by a total of 45 artists some of whom have to double up two roles. The opening scene alone features 32 artists on stage.
The opera narrates one of the most famous episodes in the adventures of the legendary warriors of the Yang Family in the Song Dynasty (AD 960 – 1279). It has a strong theme of loyalty to one’s country and filial piety. Briefly, the patriarch led his seven sons to a meeting at the Golden Sand Beach, not knowing that they were walking into a trap laid by their enemy the State of Liao. In the ensuing battle, the patriarch and four of his sons were killed while the fifth son saved by a monk and the fourth son Yang Si Lang marrying the princess of Liao. Yang Ba Jie was tasked with retrieving the ashes of the patriarch, her father, as well as his golden sabre which was regarded as a symbol of honour, loyalty, and glory by the Yang household. Having gone through a series of obstacles, Yang Ba Jie, disguised as a male warrior and a Liao courtesan finally met up with her brother and both of them returned with their father’s ashes and golden sabre to the mainland.
Besides being a very colourful production , the opera has exciting fighting scenes specially choreographed by Mr Wu How Jian, martial arts expert of the Guangzhou Hong Dow Cantonese Opera Troupe.
