Force acting buffs hope to offer the public a taste of police life

"Life is a stage" is the famous quote, and some consider it particularly so for police officers with their day-to-day thrills and dramas.

Just ask Senior Police Constable Lam Wai-nin and PC Poon Tung of Sha Tin Division's Patrol Sub-unit Team Two and Sha Tin District Crime Squad respectively.

These two long-time acting enthusiasts are banding together to invite Force staff to form a drama club.

SPC Lam recently won a script writing competition sponsored by the Arts Development Council for his children's drama 'It's Snowing Again', landing him a $10,000 prize.

He said with the daily trials and tribulations of police life, it was time staff put together their own production house and bring their real life stories, and some imagination, to the stage for the public.

"I've been addicted to performing since high school and never miss a chance to hit the stage," SPC Lam said, continuing his dabbling in stage performances, script writing, directing and backstage work since joining the Force in 1980.

He said he one day hoped to participate in a drama about police officers, essentially a story themed on his own life in the Force.

"This is every drama lover's dream," he said.

Passing out from the Police Training School in 1987, PC Poon picked up the drama bug through some mates, subsequently completing an acting course at the School of Continuing Education at the then Hong Kong Baptist College in 1992.

He joined a drama club in 1994 but stage performances proved too demanding for an officer working shifts, so he concentrated on backstage work.

"Stage performances are extremely rewarding because of the mutual support and co-operation among performers and the encouraging response from the audience," he said.

The pair met last year after being posted to Sha Tin Division. In March they hit the stage together for the first time, in a futuristic drama at the Sha Tin Town Hall with Lam also directing.

"To be a good actor, you have to keep your emotions in control to make the most of your role. In real life, we have a host of different roles to play and it's my philosophy to do the best in all I do," SPC Lam said.

"In addition, in bettering interpersonal skills, acting and directing also benefit me in building good relationships with all partners which is also a plus for my day-to-day work.

"Whether or not acting has any adverse effects on your career depends on how you manage your time. Many Force members spend their leisure time exercising and studying but I do drama, which I find just as beneficial."

PC Poon said he found drama was a top way to release pent-up emotions.

"By doing drama, I've come to realise what life's like for social workers, teachers, labourers and other people of different social status. This is really enriching for my career as well as my life as a whole," PC Poon said.

SPC Lam and PC Poon invite OffBeat readers interested in drama to join them in organising a club. Call SPC Lam on 9211-4759 or PC Poon on 9201-3434 for information.

Stage hands: PC Poon and SPC Lam want to share their love of drama