In 1998, the American composer and lyricist Stephen Trask paired up with writer and actor John Cameron Mitchell to come up with a groundbreaking rock musical loosely inspired by a German babysitter and prostitute who worked in a small city in the US state of Kansas.
The multi-award winning Hedwig and the Angry Inch has since toured the world, with its genderqueer protagonist winning over fans with her story of longing, trauma, departed identities and self-discovery.
Born “Hansel” in communist East Berlin, Hedwig is full of scars, both figurative (traumatised by past abusive lovers) and literal (a botched sex-change operation that gave her a one-inch flesh mound between her legs).
The story follows Hedwig on tour as she stalks her ex-lover and nemesis – a much more successful musician who was disgusted by Hedwig’s “inch”.
Now, a Cantonese version of Hedwig is coming to Hong Kong, and its creators promise to stay true to the original’s spirit while giving the American tale a local context.