【明報專訊】Officially opened on 20 January 2019, the Xiqu Centre (戲曲中心) is one of the Western Kowloon Cultural District's landmark buildings. The building's design is inspired by traditional Chinese lanterns. It is a theatre, arts education centre and public space.

The Xiqu Centre houses a Grand Theatre (picture) which can accommodate more than 1,000 people, and a Tea House Theatre with a capacity of 200 seats. There are also professional studios and a seminar hall. All the venues and facilities are specially designed for Chinese opera-related functions and activities.

The official opening of the centre is marked by a performance of the classic Cantonese Opera The Reincarnation of Red Plum (《再世紅梅記》) , under the direction of stage legend Pak Suet-sin (白雪仙), and starring Cantonese opera stars Chan Po-chu (陳寶珠) and Mui Suet-see (梅雪詩).

sources: Ming Pao, www.westkowloon.hk

■English highway﹕one of the

The noun following the phrase "one of the" is always a plural noun.

e.g. He is one of the most popular Canton-pop singers.

■Game

The Chinese opera mask is symmetrical (對稱的). Can you draw the missing half?

■Quiz

Choose the correct answers.

1. In the Xiqu Centre, the capacity of the Grand Theatre is (larger/smaller) than that of the Tea House Theatre, accommodating (more/less) seats.

2. Chan Po-chu and Mui Suet-see are:

A. designers of Xiqu Centre

B. writers of Cantonese opera

C. performers of Cantonese opera

D. none of the above

(Answers on next text)

■Glossary

officially (adv) 正式地

accommodate (v) 容納

reincarnation (n) 轉世

legend (n) 傳奇人物

[Smarties' Power English 第237期]