Speech at the opening ceremony of The Jockey Club “From Page to Stage” Programme 2017: Franky

Speech by Mrs Marion LAI, JP
Permanent Secretary for Education
at the opening ceremony of
The Jockey Club “From Page to Stage” Programme 2017: Franky
on 28 February 2017 (Tuesday)

Distinguished guests, teachers, students, ladies and gentlemen,

　　　 It gives me great pleasure to join the opening ceremony of The Jockey Club “From Page to Stage” Programme 2017: Franky as a guest of honour.  With the generous support of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the Programme has entered its sixth year.  As an English drama education platform, the Programme has reached almost 65 000 local secondary school teachers and students by offering highly-acclaimed productions and performances over the past few years.  This is certainly an encouraging and remarkable record.  Integrating drama experience with English learning, The Jockey Club “From Page to Stage” Programme is supportive of the Education Bureau’s commitment to promoting drama in education, with particular relevance to the English Language elective module “Learning English through Drama” and the elective subject “Literature in English” at the senior secondary level.

2.  　　Drama is a powerful pedagogical tool for boosting students’ interest and confidence in using language.  Thanks to arts organisations, such as The Absolutely Fabulous Theatre Connection or AFTEC in short, our students are provided with opportunities to appreciate drama performances and widen their exposure to the authentic use of English through live productions.  What is more, by working together to create their own dramas, students learn to give expression to imaginative ideas; and in the course of this, they apply and further develop their generic skills, such as those relating to communication, innovation, critical thinking and collaboration.

3. 　　 A good drama performance is a true manifestation of not only multifaceted talent, but also strong passion and seamless teamwork.  Every detail from script writing to onstage acting, as well as the use of lighting, music, props and costumes, calls for the concerted efforts of a professional team both onstage and offstage.  Mary Shelley’s famous novel Frankenstein is a classic of the English literature.  I look forward to seeing its theatrical adaptation Franky and I guess you are just as keen as I am.

4.　　  In closing, let me take this opportunity to extend my congratulations and heartfelt gratitude to AFTEC for its dedicated endeavours in encouraging English learning and teaching in the school community through inspiring arts-in-education programmes.  I am sure that you will all enjoy the performance and the interactive learning activities this afternoon.  Thank you.