In Hong Kong, theatre performers long for the stage as pandemic drags on

In his spare time, Edmond Kok, a Hong Kong theatre costume designer and actor, made a variety of face masks to protect against the pandemic. Photo: AP

Hong Kong's performing arts community has been brutally hit by the coronavirus pandemic, which has left theatres empty and stage lights cold -- and there is little hope on the horizon even as entertainment venues begin to reopen.

The same pain felt by performers in Broadway and the West End is being experienced by artists in Asia, even while governments there have had greater success at tackling the coronavirus.