Hong Kong 2020 Online Streaming

In June 2020, amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, May 35th (Gengzi Edition) made history by transitioning from stage to online streaming. With all performance venues in Hong Kong closed, the production was forced to cancel its live performances. Undeterred, the Stage June Fourth team launched a successful crowdfunding campaign, raising HKD 500,000 to stream the play live online. Over 540,000 viewers from around the world tuned in to the 90-hour broadcast, allowing people everywhere to experience this powerful tribute to the Tiananmen Square Massacre during a time of global isolation. The online production not only kept the spirit of the play alive but also set a new record in Hong Kong theatre history.

In September 2021, Stage June Fourth disbanded amid mounting political repression in Hong Kong. The loss of artistic freedom and the growing fear of state retaliation made it impossible for the company to continue its work. Once a symbol of free expression, the group chose to dissolve rather than compromise its integrity. This marked a pivotal moment for Hong Kong’s theatre scene, where fear had overtaken the freedom to create without censorship.

Photo credit: Kit Chan Imagery, Cheung Chi Wai @ Moon 9 Image