Can absolute truth ever exist on stage?

Training, casting, creation, rehearsals, production—everything proceeds as planned until an unforeseen event disrupts the process. The original plan becomes impossible to execute. In this moment of upheaval, do the actors still construct an illusion, or do they truthfully reenact the event?

If all stage performances are inherently artificial, why do we uphold the principles of “true listening, true seeing, and true feeling”? Is acting merely the craft of fabrication, or is it an event of genuine emotional experience? Can actors break free from the conventions of realism to redefine performance through bold new perspectives?

Fake Performance is (Real) Performance is directed by Hong Kong’s Melissa Leung Hiu Tuen and collaboratively devised by the graduating students of NAFA’s Diploma in Theatre (Mandarin) program. This production transcends the boundaries of conventional theatre, exploring the essence of acting and the evolving role of the performer. It unfolds as a profound dialogue on authenticity, narrative construction, and artistic autonomy.