House Programme - LauZone
Cabaret LauZone Sings to the Tune of Hong Kong’s Crazy Rich Culcha
“Where are you from? Where are you REALLY from?”
This trivial bit of information seems useful only while filling in application forms. However, what else does our place of ancestry represent? Other than a few slang words, Hong Kong people are all but detached from the dialects spoken fluently among older generations. To tackle this bittersweet relationship, the multi-talented trio of Yuri Ng, Anna Lo and Rick Lau present LauZone—a poignant yet playful cabaret examining the rich variety of Chinese dialects, our ancestral roots, and the process of finding home. As the second instalment of a Tai Kwun-commissioned three-part cabaret series exploring unique Hong Kong stories (Part 1: Tri Ka Tsai, Part 3: The Farewell Comeback Tour), the premiere of LauZone in the 2021 Tai Kwun SPOTLIGHT: A Season of Performing Arts was a sold-out and much-praised success, with Rick Lau nominated for Best Actor at the 13th Hong Kong Theatre Libre Awards in 2022.
Lau Zone is a Cantonese colloquial term describing non-Cantonese natives, which essentially includes most Hongkongers of previous generations, most having been immigrants to the city. Get ready for a euphony of dialects (e.g., Chiuchow, Shanghainese, Taishan), original music, and laughter as Rick Lau and Anna Lo shine in a cabaret show paying tribute to the lives and memories of the melting pot known as Hong Kong and the city’s collective roots and inherited legacy.
- Running time: approximately 1 hour without intermission.
- To avoid undue disturbance to the performers and audience members, please switch off mobile phones and any other sound and light emitting devices.
- Eating and drinking are strictly prohibited during the performance.
Thank you for your cooperation.
- Nursery Rhyme [1]
- In The Zone
- Glass Menagerie
- Cow's Tears
- Nursery Rhyme [2]
- True Bias
- One Way Ticket
- Where Nobody Knows My Name
- I Spy With My Slanty Eyes
- Men Are Birds, Birds Are Men
- Made In Hong Kong
- Nursery Rhyme [3]
Nursery Rhyme [1]
Music and arrangement by Anna Lo | Lyrics by Traditional Shanghainese Nursery Rhyme | Translated by Nicole Liang and Winston Wu
(In Shanghainese)
There was a tiger on the mountain,
hungry for flesh
It was held inside a cage
The cage broke, and the tiger escaped
Escaped to Nanjing; escaped to Beijing
Bought a pack of sweetener and put it in water for a soak
Time for food, and play the erhu
Put it in water for a soak
Time for food, and play the erhu
In The Zone
Music and arrangement by: Anna Lo | Lyrics by: Leung Pak Kin | Translated by: Nicole Liang and Winston Wu
Motivated and driven, if you’ve nothing else to offer, work til you drop
Chaoyang people have quite the personality, whereas Haifeng people are calm and chill
Bags of rice on shoulders, downing drinks at Daa Laang
We are a family, we always have your back
We will always fight to succeed
Shanghainese people “ahla” sounds nice for “we”
Need to look pretty without a penny, ladies looking fair and silky
Two Hundred Fifty, good at bargaining
Those who live in North Point are the kings of Mahjong
Hong Kong has all kinds of people; it takes all sorts to
Lauzones are likely to be in this area, people from Teochew are the most hardworking and driven
There are many residents in North Point; The Hokkien with an extra stick at hand
Years, months and days go by; Hardworking “friendz” are here to be found
Neighbors from Hokkien, Hoklo, Zhongshan
Northerners ,Guangzhou, Hakka, Jiangnan
Tomb sweeping on Chung Yeung Festival, tombs dotting the hillsides of Guangdong
So many languages in Hong Kong, there must be a way to connect
Each with their distinctive foul language
The Weitou people looking for their kind, fighting their way to Sheung Wan
Through thick and thin, just for two meals and a living
La La La
Coolies form gangs through their brotherly rituals
Cops from Shandong are especially tough, one glare and you end up in their cars
With their suits and ties and local cuisine, the Shanghainese have no competition
Factories are open, plastic flowers bloom and stocks are flowing, the Li’s are always top of the market
Lauzones chew on sugarcanes on the street with no change in their pockets, no problem, will just go and borrow some
Lauzones fight their way to the top, overcoming unspoken sweat and tears
Lauzones, your trusted companions through poverty til success is achieved
Taking care of families, eating canned foods in the storm, returning their hometowns every once in a while
The resettlement areas are full of people working through the nights
They work and work, penny-pinch, just to earn a dime or two
Neighbors from Hokkien, Hoklo, Zhongshan
Northerners, Guangzhou, Hakka, Jiangnan
Tomb sweeping on Chung Yeung Festival, tombs dotting the hillsides of Guangdong
So many languages in Hong Kong, there must be a way to connect
Each with their distinctive foul language
The Weitou people looking for their kind, fighting their way to Sheung Wan
Through thick and thin, just for two meals and a living
Adversity comes and goes, Lauzone you have to watch your step
Laugh together, you must be tough in Hong Kong
Through thick and thin, make a living together
(Adversity comes and goes, Lauzone you have to watch your step)
Hustle and earn , simple as that, no shame in that
(Laugh, simple as that, no shame in that)
Neighbors from Hokkien, Hoklo, Zhongshan
Northerners,Guangzhou, Hakka, Jiangnan
Tomb sweeping along the hillsides of Guangdong
Everyone’s a HK chank with no exceptions
Everyone with their foul mouths, flexing their fortunes
The Weitou people looking for their kind, fighting their way to Sheung Wan
Through thick and thin, enough for two meals and a living
La La La
Glass Menagerie
Music and arrangement by Anna Lo | Lyrics by Leung Pak Kin | Translated by Nicole Liang and Winston Wu
The lion is ferocious, but you roll your eyes
The gorilla’s hair is sleek and black, yet you compare it to charcoal
The great viper is born without limbs, and you laugh at its “disability”
Born without legs but it can move, hmph
You ridicule the hippo for playing in dirty water
You tell crows and chickens to be quiet
Why the jeer against every kind?
Mocking the slow pace of the turtle, (oh no)
Judging everything as if you were a judge, it makes me guilty just listening to you
Fragile like glass, it is depressing
As though being suffocated
You laugh and curse like it’s a joke
When deep down you sneer at and criticize me
Fragile like glass, crying behind others’ backs
As though there is a needle pricking at the heart
We talk
You get your high and take jabs at me
Constant digs and sly remarks, with laughter that sends shivers
Laughter that makes me sweat
The wild boar with its menacing looks, which you joke is repugnant
The pug with its flat and wrinkly face, which you now just find funny more so than odd
The bald eagle was born hairless, this killer is not lonely oh yeah
Every elephant has a nose too high, born thick and long
Oh
Fragile like glass, it is depressing
As though being suffocated
You laugh and curse like it’s a joke
When deep down you sneer at and criticize me
Fragile like glass, crying behind others’ backs
As though there is a needle pricking at the heart
We talk
You get your high and take jabs at me
Constant digs and sly remarks, with laughter that sends shivers
Laughter that makes me sweat
Turns out everyone jokes when they want to laugh
Everyone is laughing in the zoo, so laugh as you please too
Everyone is laughing and not cursing (the zoo became the most peaceful in the end)
Everyone is laughing in the zoo, so laugh as you please at all the old jokes
(turns out all the animals have their own purposes too)
No longer like glass, no longer depressed
No longer like glass, no more disputes
The wind blows, like jokes and banter, you laugh at TamJai,
Speak of India and laugh at how their people are called “acha”
No longer like glass, nobody suffers any loss
Turns out you have your mouth has no filter
Get your high, speak your mind, treat them like a pork chop in a gown
I laugh when someone taunts me, when you are overcome with laughter
The world no longer has conflicts
You stop laughing because you finally admit this boring
Just say it, don’t be afraid of the glass around
Laugh and laugh until teary-eyed and dried throat
Laugh and laugh, please let it out
Cow’s Tears
Music and arrangement by Anna Lo | Lyrics by Leung Pak Kin | Translated by Nicole Liang and Winston Wu
(In Teochew)
Cow, cow, you are crying!
Fine, I won’t hit you anymore
Cow, cow, listen to me
Stop crying, I will care for you
(In Cantonese)
Time flies, fallen into the currents, chasing the minutes and the seconds
Time, like wind, comes and goes each day, tears flow into the wind
Pedestrians of the past,
sights and sounds of each day
Rice fields one day cultivated
Journeying together someday,
leaving footprints in the mud
Keep walking, so I have heard
Time, going back to one day, the figure enters the void
Time, passing from the beginning, the wind blows
Waking up from a dream a few years older
Tears leave no trace
every bruise and bump
Comes with tears for the sacrifices
Souls of the people leaving footprints in the dust
All in the cause and effect, so I have heard
Time, as if real, trickles daily to the streams as if from a waterwheel
Time, as if false, plough the earth, go around in a circle
Goodness and kindness
Wake up and see you on the other side
(In Teochew)
Cow, cow, are you crying?
You can finally rest now
Cow, cow, listen to me
I will care for you like a baby.
Don’t cry, I am here for you
Nursery Rhyme (2)
Music and arrangement by Anna Lo | Lyrics by Chris Shum | Translated by Nicole Liang and Winston Wu
Spacing out looks foolish, can’t avoid a dimwit
Bogeyman is gonna catch you
Your Dad and Mum Friends and neighbours
Your Brothers and sisters Grandpa and Grandma
Nothing’s gonna save you
Tweets and Chirps are a waste of energy
Being depressed entails nothing great
Didn’t study and you come in last place
True Bias
Music and arrangement by Anna Lo | Lyrics by Leung Pak Kin | Translated by Nicole Liang and Winston Wu
Silent threads gather to become a sword at hand
Meander in the fabric, From skilled hands the fabric into a shawl
The beauty of curves revealed by the slim fit
Svelte grace set into limelight amongst blinding flashlights
The most beloved couturiers are here in town
Gathering each and every classic without bias
Yet what I love more is the moment of convergence and pioneering
Be it to customize or change an accessory
Breathes life into Chinese and Western craftsmanship
Patterns change at a snip, threads spring into life
Skillfully brandishing a needle like a sword at hand
Each twist and twirl sprouts into inches of life
Each clip and nick blossoms with mastery
Like a gentleman spinning and circling
Within rules and systems with poise and grace
Like a sculptor crafting a masterpiece
Studying the multitudinous facets a needle may bring
Jot by jot, needle followed by thread
Each button and inch fits perfectly like a glove
Delicate angles and natural fits
The back of the suit
When positions change, revamps and upgrades are commonplace
As stitches reverse in resignation, each twist and turn is goodbye to the past
There are regrets, east and west at opposing sides
Overturning conservatism is a century-old classic
There may be frets, living under definitions
Tailor-made under my request is my latest trend
Patterns change at a snip, threads spring into life
Skillfully brandishing a needle like a sword at hand
Each twist and twirl sprouts into inches of life
Each clip and nick blossoms with mastery
Like a gentleman spinning and circling
Within rules and systems with poise and grace
Like a sculptor crafting a masterpiece
The thread in his hands The old dances with the new
With opposites at the two sides
How to trim when it’s one step forward, two steps back
Like fabric splitting into two sides of the same face
To hold on to the past or yearn for something new
Feeling abashed at the crossroads of change
Patterns change with the surroundings, the tailor knows it well
A lifetime spinning and circling in needles and thread
Continuing to amaze with fabric followed by fabric
Devoting solely to the beauty of the body
Jot by jot, needle followed by thread
Each button and inch fits perfectly like a glove
Delicate angles and natural fits
The back of the suit
Passing on the legacy of the day
One Way Ticket
Music and arrangement by Anna Lo | Lyrics by Chris Shum | Translated by Nicole Liang and Winston Wu
With my bags packed, I fly to a distant place in the night
Looking into the past with parting sorrows
A trip guided by emotions, despite them often unexpressed
Yet tears burn the eyes from city lights at takeoff and landing
Friends reminisce about my legacy at parties
Bringing up so-and-so, and what caused our fallout
How many are left? Spending time through jests and frolics
Conversing about those we sent off last month, and the month before
Forgetting how to say goodbyes, did we say what we’re doing in the future?
Remembering the barriers to reunion from this point on
That night, we drank and waited for the time to pass
Joking about how I won’t be around for the next one
Another friend added to the long list that have already gone
Scattered across the map of the world
They laugh and “congratulate” me, the familiar rudeness does help
As though to deflect from the thought of never seeing me again
With my bags packed, I fly to a distant place in the night
Looking into the past with parting sorrows
A trip guided by emotions, despite them often unexpressed
Yet tears burn the eyes from city lights at takeoff and landing
Believed that we would always meet again, who knew
From that day on, it was never to be, like it used to be
I lie in my passenger seat with ticket in hand
Unable to sleep due to hunger, how it reminded me of when our glasses last clinked
How many relationships have we bid farewell to?
Soon as our words ended, a new accent is to be donned
Once upon a time I travelled, glimpsing at sights hurriedly
Now I have brought luggage to settle at a foreign land
Flying to a distant place in the pitch-black of the night
Looking into the past with parting sorrows
A trip guided by emotions, despite them often unexpressed
Yet tears burn the eyes only from city lights at takeoff and landing
Laughing at the fact that I needed a plane to move houses
Downing my drink so I could sleep, bid farewell to this day, then build a new home
Today I fly to a distant place in the night
With packed bags, and a lingering past
Not knowing what the future holds
But without a return ticket, I go, and won’t look back
Where Nobody Knows My Name
Music, lyrics and arrangement by Anna Lo
Will the grass be greener on the other side?
Will the air be sweeter on a summer night?
Will the moon hang higher?
Will the sun shine brighter?
Will I see you and me with different eyes?
Will the spring in my step be any springy-er?
Will the thoughts in my head be any thinky-er?
Will I see out further?
Will I hear more colors?
Will the new words flow like the Yellow River?
I’m gonna go go go where nobody knows my name
Be that so and so with everything to gain
And we’ll go rock and roll across the new terrain
How great it would be to see a new reflection looking back at me
Will they see what I see, what the future holds?
Will they take what I give? How will it all unfold?
I can see the dreams right there
Hopefully they’re not nightmares
‘least I hope that how everything will go
Is the road less travelled really the way to go?
Is it right up my alley? Does it float my boat?
Will it be smooth sailing? Or a bump in the road?
Have my feet on the ground I won’t let them get cold
I’m gonna go go go where nobody knows my name
Be that so and so with everything to gain
And we’ll go rock and roll across the new terrain
How great it would be to see a new reflection looking back at me
I’m gonna go go go where nobody knows my name
It won’t be the same
I’ve everything to gain
And we’ll go rock and roll and sing a new refrain
How wonderful it would be
To have more than one of me
How great it would be to see a strange reflection looking back at me
Is the road less travelled the way to go?
Is it right up your alley? Does it float your boat?
Will it be smooth sailing? Or a bump in the road?
Jumping ship’s a no
We’re in the same boat
Gotta get the show on the road
I Spy With My Slanty Eye
Music, lyrics and arrangement by Anna Lo
I spy, I spy with my slanty eyes
I see through all your lies
I spy and I spy with my canny eyes
Baby, I see right through your disguise
I spy, I spy with my slanty eyes
I see through all your lies
I spy and I spy with my canny eyes
Frankly I see right through
I know Kung Fu
Don’t take me for a fool
I see right through your disguise
Men are Birds, Birds are Men
Music and arrangement by Anna Lo | Lyrics by Rick Lau | Translated by Nicole Liang and Winston Wu
(In Teochew)
Stinky boy oh smelly boy
Smooth hair, red bottom
Mowing grass with cattle over the hills
Feeding chicks til they grow big
Today we’re here, tomorrow we’re there
Men are birds, birds are men
Chick is at home with no food
To go for a fly outside would be good
Being smart in school gets all the praise
Marrying a good wife, it’s all smiles
Today we’re here, tomorrow we’re there
Men are birds, birds are men
Water drips from rooftop tiles
Drip and drip without fail
Sayings in old books can be copied onto paper
Don’t penny-pinch with food, don’t splurge on luxuries
A healthy body is important
Foot pain does not understand those with it
Take me away at a good day and good time
Today we’re here, tomorrow we’re there
Men are birds, birds are men
Men are birds, birds are men
Made in Hong Kong
Music and arrangement by Anna Lo | Lyrics by Leon Ko | Translated by Nicole Liang and Anna Lo
The Harbour recounts stories clouded by war and fire
Battleships berthed near Possession Point
Fishing boats watching over Deep Water Bay
Hoping it will be bygones one day, hoping the sun will shine again some day
Tsim Sha Tsui has long forgotten
its past besieged by war
Silent and tranquil on the broad avenues
Yet no stars could be seen at Star House
Only a canopy of city lights
Lighting up your face and mine
Stepping out of the pitch-dark alleys of the Walled City
Now a park where children run and play
Half of the stubborn rock remains unburied
at the South Gate
Still complaining, still remembering, still watching
Worshiping Buddha, reciting scriptures,
going to church on a Sunday,
Faith and hope is love, the sea of suffering is boundless
Physiognomy and fortune telling,
who understands, how to divine
All one wants is the best fortunes for oneself
Who cares which faction or denomination
Rice balls, sushi, egg sandwich or drunken crab
Each have fans rooting for them in delight
Working hard so you can eat to your heart's content
No matter life's highs or lows
Let's first make sure stomachs aren't growling
Whether you are rich or poor
Whether your days are colourful or full of loafing around
You will always find something that entices you
And walk your own unique path
Work hard and shoulder the many expectations
The heavens above are watching,
all the exciting collisions
Withstanding the immersion of culture
Alternations in time and space
Witnessing the glory of the past
Tough on tough,
gale force winds and stormy waves
Joining hands to create a future together –
did we achieve what we wanted?
Who is there to give you cover when
swimming against the tide
Who can stand firm and shield troubles
Are there any model answers that we can look for?
It would be fine even when toiling from dawn till dark
Together we will set sail and brave the sea
Meeting your best crew at the foot of the Lion Rock
Even if we are millions of miles apart
The heart is at ease as we kiss goodbye
Whether you are rich or poor
Whether you are smart or stupid
You will always find another set of footsteps
A voice that harmonizes
Work hard and shoulder the many expectations
The heavens above are watching,
all the exciting collisions
Withstanding the immersion of culture
Alternations in time and space
Witnessing the glory of the past
Tough on tough,
gale force winds and stormy waves
Joining hands to create a future together –
did we achieve what we wanted?
Who is there to give you cover when
swimming against the tide
Who can stand firm and shield troubles
Will we find the answers we are looking for?
Bear in mind,
everything nice will fall victim to the sands of time
Cherish everything
Bear in mind, the resplendent sheen of the sunset
Keep on creating what’s made in Hong Kong
Base your characters off the stories of you and I
One must go through ups and downs
Scramble through dirt and stand tall
And settle only once you have seen it all
The roses will blossom, together in hope
Making steel from iron –
who cares how solemn or tragic it will be
Rise from the ashes and transform
And welcome the brilliant sunshine
Have you ever seen the fireworks lighting up the harbour?
Have you ever told someone that they are your one and only?
Have you ever reminisced about the early summers at Repulse Bay?
Have you ever bought flowers at the Flower Market?
Have you ever taken the minibus in the wee hours?
Have you ever asked about your future at Temple Street?
Have you ever gone home hoping that the day would be longer?
The sorrows of an old song continue to ring
Still speaking of the hopes that
we will be together one day
Times have gone by
Leaving old songs and famous lines behind
Nursery Rhyme (3)
Music and arrangement by Anna Lo | Lyrics by Chris Shum | Translated by Nicole Liang and Winston Wu
(In Putonghua)
Don’t be afraid just climb and go
Be a whiz or be a freak just let it be
Gamble and stride with head up high
Could care less ‘bout the lows and highs
Gotta come out on top like I got cheat codes
(In English)
The apples say goodbye
On the grass they lie
Will they travel far and wide?
Don’t you know how, Don’t you know where,
Don’t you know who, Don’t you know why,
Don’t you know that underneath the apple tree
Down and down these roots they reach
Deep under the grass so green,
Lies the answers, lies the key
(In Cantonese)
Nothing’s gonna save you
Don’t waste your energy
(In Shanghainese)
Put it in water for a soak
Time for food, and play the erhu
Co-creator, Composer and Performer: Anna Lo
Co-creator, Text and Performer: Rick Lau
Director, Set and Costume Designer: Yuri Ng ^
Text: Yan Dong, Leon Ko, Leung Pak Kin, Anna Lo, William Ng OFM, Chris Shum, Tony Taylor
Musicians: Ming Chan, Wilson Lam, Rebecca Li, Victor Tsang, Lawrence Tsui
Lighting Designer: Mak Kwok Fai
Sound Engineer: Candog Ha
^ By kind permission of the City Contemporary Dance Company
Anna Lo
Anna Lo is a composer, arranger, singer, conductor, producer, performer and a cappella artist. She graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Berklee College of Music.
Anna has worked with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Hong Kong Dance Company, Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, Hong Kong String Orchestra, City Contemporary Dance Company, Actors’ Family, Theatre Ronin and Mr. Wing Theatre Company. She was nominated three times for her music at the Hong Kong Drama Awards and commissioned by Tai Kwun to create the original cabaret works Tri Ka Tsai (2019), followed by LauZone (2021) and The Farewell Comeback Tour (2023). Tri Ka Tsai had a sold-out rerun at West Kowloon in 2021 and appeared at Singapore’s Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts 2023. LauZone was adapted by the City Contemporary Dance Company into the dance work Home Sweat Home, in 2021, followed by a sold-out rerun in 2022 at Tai Kwun and a presentation at the 2023 HKUST Arts Festival.
Anna is an avid a cappella artist and prolific a cappella arranger/composer. Co-Artistic Director of Yat Po Singers and Music Director of the pop a cappella group VSing, she has performed, coached, written for and acted as music director for multiple Yat Po productions, while VSing has represented Hong Kong in many a cappella/arts festivals in cities around the world,. VSing’s original track "Hear Me Out" (2022), and “I Want A Lot” and “Sel-Fish” (2023) were nominated by The Contemporary A Cappella Society (CASA) for Best Original Song in 2023 and received four nominations (and two awards including Best Hip-Hop / R&B Video) in the 2024 A Cappella Video Awards. VSing’s latest original song “I Wanna Wanna” was released in June 2024. In 2023, through funding from the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau’s Arts Capacity Development Funding Scheme, VSing began a two-year a cappella project SOUND ON, aiming to provide high-quality and diverse a cappella music experiences for local audiences.
Anna is also active in pop music and has composed for films. She released her first EP in 2016.
Instagram: ykannalo
Facebook: AnnaLoPage
Rick Lau
Rick Lau graduated from NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art, Australia) in Musical Theatre. His main professional theatre credits in Australia: Miss Saigon (“Engineer” (1st u/s)), Thoroughly Modern Millie and Hair. In Hong Kong: Freespace x HK Repertory’s The Impossible Trial, Yat Po Singers’ Our Immortal Cantata, Om Encounter, Save the Next Song for Me and Pica Pica Choose, Leon Ko’s The Originals, Hong Kong Sinfonietta’s The Passage Beyond in Concert and The Amazing Filmphony, City Contemporary Dance Company‘s Home Sweat Home, Actors’ Family’s Cinematic Memories on Train No.5, The Good Person of Szechwan, Chung Ying Theatre’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and The Underpants, City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong’s Bug Symphony, Hong Kong Arts Festival’s June Lovers, 3AMI’s Smokey Joe’s Cafe and The Pajama Game, and Hong Kong Ballet’s Cinderella, Swan Lake, Carnival of the Animals and Sleeping Beauty. Rick’s cabaret shows: LauZone (nominated for Best Actor at the 13th Hong Kong Theatre Libre Awards), Tri Ka Tsai, The Farewell Comeback Tour, Rick Lau’s Lonely Hearts Club Hour, My Queer Valentine, When Rick Met Marsha…, The 3 Singing Bitches, My Generation, Men in Love, SunRice, I know where I'm going... I think, and How Now Rick Lau(commissioned by the Sydney Opera House).
Instagram: ricklauoz
Facebook: ricklauoz
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This programme is sponsored by the Galaxy Engineering Holding Co., Ltd. and Tin Yau Foundation Ltd.