The 8th Chinese Universities Shakespeare Festival Performance Finals was successfully held on campus from 28 to 30 May. This year, 44 universities from the mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan entered the competition. Fourteen of these teams were selected to join the finals at CUHK, jointly hosted by the Department of English and the Office of the Arts Administrator. The event was sponsored by Dr. Tien Chang Lin Technology Innovation Foundation and Shun Hing Education and Charity Fund, and was launched by Provost Prof. Benjamin W. Wah.

The first prize, an all-expenses-paid trip to England to watch Shakespeare plays and productions in London and Stratford, was awarded to Shenzhen University for their excellent performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. First runners-up were the National Taiwan University (The Tempest), followed by Guizhou, Lingnan and CUHK. Tsui Wo-hui Christopher (Year 2, English) of CUHK won the prize for best actor for his powerful portrayal of Coriolanus.

A  total of 4,500 Hong Kong secondary school students watched the performances with their teachers over the three days. Sir Run Run Shaw Hall was filled to capacity each day by this appreciative and lively audience. Part of the purpose of the festival, along with furthering friendships between students from mainland and regional universities, is to bring Shakespeare, drama and literature in English to Hong Kong school students.