In 2017, I visited Hong Kong for the first time while working on a tour of China. The Avenue of Stars was under construction, so I wandered into a nearby park and came across a director’s chair. I sat in it for a photo, just for fun, and didn’t think much of it at the time.
Nine years later, I find myself reflecting on that moment as I prepare to open The Addams Family Musical in two languages, Cantonese this weekend and English the next, while Café I Do, the Leslie Cheung musical, continues its run. This weekend, both shows will be playing at the same time in two of the most prestigious theatres in Hong Kong.
I also have the privilege of serving as Head of Drama at one of the world’s top schools (Kellett, Hong Kong), where I’ve been supported by an incredible team of colleagues and students. Working in an environment that values the arts so deeply is inspiring.
It’s strange to think back to where it all started. Twenty-two years ago, I directed my first show as a 14-year-old in a church hall. I had big ideas but very little to work with; 50 children, a tiny old stage, and a couple of stage lights. It wasn’t perfect, but it was where I fell in love with the craft of theatre. Over the years, I kept going. Every project, big or small, taught me something new and helped me grow, even when I didn’t realise it at the time.
When I moved to Hong Kong in 2020, I had no idea what the future would hold.
Looking back, I’m reminded that the journey is never a straight line. It’s made up of small steps, unexpected turns, and moments that seem insignificant at the time but end up shaping everything.
To anyone working toward their goals, I want to say this: keep going. Keep learning, keep showing up, and trust the process. The work you put in now, no matter how small it feels, can lead to something extraordinary.
That photo of me in the director’s chair back in 2017 was just a fun moment, but looking at it now, it feels like a quiet symbol of everything that’s unfolded since. Sometimes, life has a way of surprising you.
