Exhibition opening and book launch of "The Art of Leung Sing-boh"

The book was published under the Leung Sing-boh Biography Publication and Research Project launched by the HKU Faculty of Education. The project was sponsored by the HKU Culture and Humanities Fund to commemorate the 100th birthday of the famous artist in 2008.

An exhibition to coincide with the book launch will be held at the University to feature photographs of Mr Leung in television performances and rehearsals with other actors and famous Cantonese opera artists. A collection of objects used by Mr Leung including stage costume and headdress will also be displayed to enable visitors a thorough understanding of his life on and off the stage and screen.

Well known as the "King of Comic Role Actors", Mr Leung was born in Singapore in 1908 to a family of Cantonese opera performers. He was fond of opera, singing and acting as a child. In 1940, he began to perform Cantonese opera in Hong Kong, and act in films from 1950 onwards. In 1967, Mr Leung began to perform in television shows popular to the people of Hong Kong. (Please see below for details of Mr Leung's life)

Media representatives are cordially invited to the exhibition opening and book launch. Details are as follows:

Date: October 9, 2009 (Friday) 
Time: 4 pm 
Venue: University Museum and Art Gallery, 94 Bonham Road, Hong Kong

Officiating guests:
- Mr Fung Siu Por Lawrence, Chairman, Hong Kong Economic Times Holdings Limited;
- Dr Wang Ming Chun Elizabeth, Chairman, The Chinese Artist Association of Hong Kong
- Professor C F Lee, Chairman, The Advisory Committee of Leung Sing Boh Biography Publication and Research Project

The exhibition will continue until November 15, 2009. Details as follows:

Address: University Museum and Art Gallery, 94 Bonham Road, Hong Kong
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday 9:30 am - 6:00 pm
Sunday 1:00 - 6:00 pm
Closed on University and public holidays
Please contact the Museum on 2241-5500 for further details.

A brief biography of Mr Leung Sing-boh

Leung Sing-boh was born in Singapore in 1908 to a family of Cantonese opera performers.  He was fond of opera, singing and acting as a child, and by the age of seventeen was performing himself and played the role of siu mo (later known as principal male role) two years later.  He was known as one of the "Four Super Stars of Singapore".  In 1940, he began to perform Cantonese opera in Hong Kong, joining different troupes to tour Macau, Guangzhou, Xijiang and Guilin during the Sino-Japanese war.  Known for playing the civil and martial role, in 1949 Leung began to play the clown, becoming the "King of Comic Role Actors". 

Leung began to act in films from 1950 onwards, performing in almost 450 films.  He also recorded various albums.  In 1967, Leung began to appear in television, hosting and performing in popular entertainment programme "Enjoy Yourself Tonight" (EYT) with Cheng Kwan-min and Lydia Sum (Fei Fei).

For media enquiries, please contact: Ms Trinni Choy (Assistant Director (Media), Communications and Public Affairs Office) tel: 2859 2606 email: pychoy@hku.hk or Ms Melanie Wan (Manager (Media), Communications and Public Affairs Office) tel: 2859 2600 email: melwkwan@hku.hk.