INTERNATIONAL
'Trump' and 'Zelenskiy' take centre stage in Hong Kong Cantonese opera
Booklets of "Trump, The Twins President" opera sit backstage in Hong Kong, China, June 5, 2025. - REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
IN a Cantonese opera inspired by U.S. President Donald Trump in Hong Kong, a Chinese actor donning a blonde wig spars with a man playing a double of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy — ridiculing his outfit and dueling with him in the White House.
AI Brief
The sold-out show, "Trump, The Twins President", took place in the financial hub's Xiqu Theatre in Tsim Sha Tsui, as Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping held a one-hour-long call on Thursday (June 5).
Written by a Feng Shui master-turned-Cantonese opera playwright Edward Li, the comedy debuted in 2019 in the Chinese special administration. It has had several iterations since then with the latest featuring Trump's attempted assassination and his quarrel with Zelenskiy in the White House.
The opera begins with a dream by Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, where her father has a twin brother named Chuan Pu, living in China. When Trump is kidnapped by aliens from Mars, Ivanka asks Chuan to pretend to be Trump for one day.
Li said he chose Trump as the main character because his tariffs and policies have affected daily lives.
“I think this opera is quite a special medicine for the whole world,” Li said. "If people can see this opera, they will feel very happy because they are full of love and peace."
Cantonese opera actor Lung Koon-tin, who portrays Trump and Chuan, said Trump was a very unique figure.
"He increased tariffs and made the whole world speak out."
Lung said China and the U.S. should be good friends. "No matter what happens, we are Chinese and he is American, but friendship always lives long. That’s why we talk about Sino–U.S. friendship in the play.”
The opera has attracted many young viewers including 28-year-old Thomas Lo, who believes the centuries-old art form of Cantonese opera often feels disconnected from modern youth.
But the Trump-themed show infused with contemporary events, offers a refreshing twist. “It’s fun and really something special,” Lo said.
"It incorporates the traditional Chinese cultural aspects of Cantonese opera, and on the other hand, it includes Western-style elements like English songs and dances. It’s very international," said another audience member Kitty Leung.
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AI Brief
- The opera tells a comedic tale of Trump's Chinese twin and aliens, reflecting global political issues through satire.
- It mixes Cantonese opera with Western elements, making the traditional art form more relatable to younger audiences.
- The play promotes peace and US-China friendship, using Trump's global impact as a central theme.
The sold-out show, "Trump, The Twins President", took place in the financial hub's Xiqu Theatre in Tsim Sha Tsui, as Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping held a one-hour-long call on Thursday (June 5).
Written by a Feng Shui master-turned-Cantonese opera playwright Edward Li, the comedy debuted in 2019 in the Chinese special administration. It has had several iterations since then with the latest featuring Trump's attempted assassination and his quarrel with Zelenskiy in the White House.
The opera begins with a dream by Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, where her father has a twin brother named Chuan Pu, living in China. When Trump is kidnapped by aliens from Mars, Ivanka asks Chuan to pretend to be Trump for one day.
Li said he chose Trump as the main character because his tariffs and policies have affected daily lives.
“I think this opera is quite a special medicine for the whole world,” Li said. "If people can see this opera, they will feel very happy because they are full of love and peace."
Cantonese opera actor Lung Koon-tin, who portrays Trump and Chuan, said Trump was a very unique figure.
"He increased tariffs and made the whole world speak out."
Lung said China and the U.S. should be good friends. "No matter what happens, we are Chinese and he is American, but friendship always lives long. That’s why we talk about Sino–U.S. friendship in the play.”
The opera has attracted many young viewers including 28-year-old Thomas Lo, who believes the centuries-old art form of Cantonese opera often feels disconnected from modern youth.
But the Trump-themed show infused with contemporary events, offers a refreshing twist. “It’s fun and really something special,” Lo said.
"It incorporates the traditional Chinese cultural aspects of Cantonese opera, and on the other hand, it includes Western-style elements like English songs and dances. It’s very international," said another audience member Kitty Leung.