Yahoo, international and other local media have been reporting that Sunbeam Theatre in Hong Kong would be closed on February 19, 2012, which is today, due to exorbitant rent increase for this 80,000-square–foot property. It was reported that the landlord demanded HK$700,000 (US$89,743) for the rent, which was more than doubled the previous rate. Some even reported that the rent could be close to HK$1 million (US$128,205). Fortunately, through public support, political campaigns and a mysterious person, Sunbeam Theatre was saved and would continue another lease at the present location. The Home Affairs Bureau today welcomed Sunbeam Theatre’s lease renewal, which will allow the Chinese opera venue to continue operating.
Sunbeam Theatre was established in 1972 and is synonymous as Cantonese opera, an important cultural heritage in Hong Kong. It has been on King’s Road in North Point for 40 years but was facing the danger of being closed down permanently to make way for a new shopping mall, an idea by the current landlord. Other all-purpose venues in Hong Kong will continue to house Chinese opera performances, but Sunbeam is the only theater that has dedicated itself exclusively to this branch of art.
In 2009 it allocated $3.6 million to the Arts Development Council to implement the Sunbeam Theatre Venue Subsidy Scheme during a three-year lease period. However, it is not suitable for the Government to subsidize commercial operations in the long run, it said. So, the support has to be from the private sector. The mysterious person is said to have submitted a proposal and also agreed to pay the million dollar rent to keep Sunbeam Theatre open.
Tickets for the Sunbeam’s closing performances have been sold out for weeks and its final show was supposed to be the story of Justice Bao, a tale of an honest official’s struggle for justice and integrity. For those who haven’t seen any Chinese opera performances or have never been to Sunbeam Theatre, I highly recommend you to make a visit at least once a year to appreciate the culture and art that have been preserved painstakingly by the locals in Hong Kong.
