From page to stage: a bold, stripped-down take on Liu Yichang’s classic Hong Kong novel

Liu Yichang’s The Drunkard is a landmark of modern Hong Kong literature, hailed as the first Chinese-language novel written in the stream-of-consciousness style. It also inspired internationally renowned film director Wong Kar-wai’s 2046. Told in the first person and breaking away from linear narrative, the novel follows a writer spiralling into alcoholism, caught between creative despair and the chaos of urban life, searching for meaning in a city that never stops moving, capturing the neon-lit decadence of 1960s Hong Kong.

This introspective work captured the attention of German theatre director Sebastian Kaiser, known for his radical adaptations of Chinese literary classics. Kaiser brings The Drunkard to the stage through a bold “ultra-poor, hyper-mobile theatre” approach, which is both eco-conscious and visually inventive. His goal is to create a fluid, improvisational experience that breaks spatial boundaries. As Kaiser expands the possibilities of the theatre, audiences may find themselves in a half-dreaming, half-waking stream of consciousness.

A new generation of actors will channel their lived experiences in contemporary Hong Kong into the characters of The Drunkard, probing their psychological states with sensitivity and depth. This performance is not only an interpretation of the novel—it’s a mirror reflecting the actors’ own journeys, allowing raw and conflicting emotions to permeate every scene and every breath. For anyone who has ever felt trapped, this production offers a space of profound resonance.

Meet-the-Artist session will be held after the performance on 1 Mar (Sun).

Tickets are available for purchase from 9 December 2025 at URBTIX