AFTEC’s Epic Three Kingdoms Trilogy Concludes with Taming the Dragon in 2025/26 School Season

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 2 September 2025 - AFTEC (The Absolutely Fabulous Theatre Connection) today announced the launch of its 2025/26 school programmes, opening enrolment for a dynamic line-up of arts education experiences. Headlining the season is Taming the Dragon, the highly anticipated final instalment of the From Page to Stage® Three Kingdoms Trilogy. The season also features the bilingual Young Theatre Makers programme, comprehensive Creative Teaching & Learning professional development for educators, and the versatile free digital learning platform, digiAFTEC®.

The 2025/26 programme suite encompasses four distinct offerings designed to foster creativity, critical thinking, and cultural appreciation among primary and secondary school students. From the flagship From Page to Stage® theatre production to cutting-edge digital learning platform, these programmes address the evolving needs of 21st-century education while aligning with the Education Bureau's learning goals.

From Page to Stage®: Taming the Dragon

The season's flagship production, Taming the Dragon, will premiere in March 2026 at AFTEC's venue partner, the Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre Theatre. Adapted and directed by AFTEC's Artistic Director, Dr Vicki Ooi, this English-language production with bilingual surtitles brings the legendary saga to a thrilling conclusion. The story picks up with Liu Bei on his deathbed, the fate of the Shu-Han kingdom resting on Zhuge Liang's final, decisive campaign against his lifelong rival, Sima Yi. This production culminates the exploration of loyalty, brotherhood, and resilience that has defined the trilogy.

Directed by Dr Vicki Ooi, this gripping adaptation explores themes of loyalty, bonding, and leadership through the legendary strategic duel between two of history's greatest military minds. The production features professional actors, live music, and bilingual surtitles, making classical Chinese literature accessible to contemporary and international audiences.

Reflecting on the trilogy, Dr Vicki Ooi stated, "Bringing the full arc of this epic to the stage has been a remarkable journey. With Taming the Dragon, we are not just concluding a story; we are reaffirming the power of classic literature to speak to new generations. These tales of strategy, loyalty, and human determination are timeless. Our goal with From Page to Stage® has always been to ignite a passion for the arts and literature by creating theatre that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant for students."

Since its inception in 2009, From Page to Stage® has engaged over 130,000 secondary school students and teachers, establishing itself as one of Hong Kong's longest-running English-language theatre-in-education programmes. The 2025/26 season offers comprehensive learning experiences including pre-show materials, interactive workshops, and post-show activities designed to deepen students' understanding of literature and performing arts.

Transforming Classrooms into Creative Studios

Beyond the main stage production, AFTEC's 2025/26 season continues to offer a comprehensive suite of programmes designed to embed creativity in schools:

• Young Theatre Makers: This bilingual drama programme empowers secondary students to explore contemporary and coming of age themes like identity, social media, and family through a curated collection of 14 original plays from local and international playwrights. The programme fosters critical thinking and self-expression through in-school training and a final showcase and discussion.
• Creative Teaching & Learning CPD: Continuing its commitment to educators, AFTEC offers a series of professional development workshops. These interactive sessions provide teachers with practical strategies and tools to integrate creative, arts-based, and object-based learning into their classrooms.
• digiAFTEC®: This free, 24/7 online educational resource supports self-directed learning for P4 to S3 students. It includes interactive modules such as Serendip to cultivate creative thinking, Walking the Amazon to explore physical theatre and resilience, and A Young Person's Guide to the Theatre to demystify the world of stage production.

"Our 2025/26 season embodies our belief in a holistic approach that connects arts with education," said Ms Lynn Yau, Chief Executive Officer, AFTEC. "By combining the excitement of a cultural bridge like Taming the Dragon with a discussion and thinking platform like Young Theatre Makers, all-round teachers' training and accessible digital resources on digiAFTEC®, we provide multiple pathways to engage with the arts. Our goal is to foster the 5C competencies — Creativity, Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration, and Contribution — through the arts, equipping a new generation with the skills essential for the future."

Full programme details are available in the appendix.

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