Brave new world

Matthew Gregory aims to bring more Englih-language dramas to China. [Photo/China Daily]

The Globe in London is an outdoor theatrical venue much credited for replicating the experience of attending a play five centuries ago. Concerned about the infrequent typhoons at the end of September, Gregory will be mounting his production indoors at the Lyric Theater.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is A Clockwork Orange, a work that is close to Gregory's heart. Unlike The Taming of the Shrew, which will feature an all-female cast, Anthony Burgess' book adapted for the stage by Glynis Henderson Productions will be all-male.

"(Stanley Kubrick's) film was banned in England and I didn't see it until much later," Gregory says. "I attended a live production of the play when I was 17 - and it was formative for me. It inspired my love for theater and why I work in it today."

Because of the disturbing subject matter, A Clockwork Orange is limited to age 14 and above at the discretion of parents. "It is no more shocking than the movie," notes Gregory. "It's also a very physical production on a minimal stage."

For almost every production, Gregory collaborates with the touring company to build a set to their exact specifications in a venue he has secured. Costumes, props and cast are all provided by the tour.

He is always scouting for new shows he feels will work in Asia, and travels to see new productions and network in the UK three times a year.

Due to ABA's success, he is certain that there is an appetite for English-language productions, especially for local parents who want their kids to grow up with theater as part of their culture. What Hong Kong needs is more venues where he can mount them.

"LCSD (Leisure and Cultural Services) venues are very difficult to book," he says. "And, as a local company, we can't book a year in advance. It would be too risky for us to book something only six weeks ahead."

Gregory would also love to stage one of his shows in Shanghai. "Everything that we do would work there," he says. "If I only knew the right people to work with."