GOOD FORTUNE HAS played a leading role in the success of Joey Leung Cho-yiu.
Seven years ago Leung says he had no concept of what was needed to be a success on stage. In April, the 28-year-old was named best leading comedy actor at the Hong Kong Drama Awards, organised by the Hong Kong Federation of Drama Societies. Leung was honoured for his role in Queer Show, a one-man play about the problems faced by the city's gay community.
Leung, whose reserved off-stage demeanour is in contrast to his colourful and comical onstage persona, beat veterans such as Jacob Chan Chu-hei, Chan Suk-yi and Jim Chim Sui-man to win the award.
Since then he's appeared in the hit show Superman Forever by W Theatre and took the lead role in multimedia piece Princess Chang Ping. Later this month, he will play a triad killer-cum-gigolo in the new Prospects Theatre production, Ho Sai Kai, and in September, teams up with W Theatre again for a show with Canto-pop star Denise Ho Wan-sze.
Not bad for a freelancer trying to make a living in a profession notorious for its lack of opportunities. In Hong Kong there are no open auditions and jobs are typically doled out based on past working relationships or personal recommendations. 'Luck comes first in Hong Kong,' Leung says. 'Elsewhere, you can win a role based solely on your audition. But not here - you have to wait for somebody to find you.'
Leung found his way into theatre by chance. Fresh out of school, having just completed his A-levels, and undecided about what to do next, he took a role in a stage show. After his first taste of the theatre, he applied for a place at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (APA) and was accepted.
