HONG KONG – Hong Kong’s “King of Ghosts,” Pan Siochong (Edmond), is set to unleash his fourth stage play, Ghost to the End (Gwai Dou Dou Tau), at the West Kowloon Cultural District’s Xiqu Centre Grand Theatre starting October 30. Advance tickets sold out rapidly, and public sales on September 30 met equally strong demand, signaling high anticipation for the annual Halloween production.
Pan, a veteran paranormal broadcaster, said the move to a larger venue will amplify the production’s fright factor. “With the space expanded, the level of terror on stage will also increase,” he told reporters. “This is not just a simple play to watch.”
Set in a school campus, Ghost to the End features a cast that includes Pan, Sonija Kwok, Tam Sin-yin, Day Hui (許軼), Ansonbean Chan (陳毅燊), Mak Pui-tung, Leung Ka-chun, Au Tsz-fei, and Chan Ka-wai. The script comes from award-winning screenwriter Lung Man-hong, with co-direction by Chu Pak-him and Cheung Chi-man.
In promotional photo shoots, cast members donned school uniforms, while Pan and Kwok appeared in distinctive outfits. Pan portrayed a “bald principal” in a light three-piece suit. Kwok, who played a “dark Miss,” wore a black dress and deep-toned lipstick. “I really love this look,” Kwok said. “I’ve rarely tried this kind of makeup before—it feels very much like the Addams Family.” The shoot also marked Kwok’s lunar birthday, with the crew surprising her with cake and flowers. She expressed hopes for a smooth run, strong box office, and good health for everyone.
Ansonbean Chan, making his stage debut, said Halloween is his favorite holiday. “I used to wear masks to scare friends,” he noted. “This time I can officially scare people.” First-time stage performer Day Hui admitted she is frightened by ghost stories but believes most spirits are benevolent. Tam Sin-yin described the project as a fresh blend of comedy and horror, adding that her school uniform costume brought back memories of wearing sweaters in secondary school.
Returning for his fourth consecutive Halloween production, Mak Pui-tung, a graduate of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, said it was special to share the stage with classmates Leung Ka-chun, Chan Ka-wai, and Au Tsz-fei. With his beard, Mak joked that shaving it would allow him to convincingly play a teenager. Leung noted the cast’s strong chemistry, while Chan praised the production’s attention to detail, including meticulous accessories. “I’m very yang,” Chan laughed, “so I can handle the eerie atmosphere.” Au, back by popular demand, joked that Pan missed her too much to leave her out.
Ghost to the End continues a tradition of Hong Kong Halloween horror theater, blending local superstition with live performance. The show’s swift sell-out reflects sustained public appetite for immersive, fear-based entertainment. As the holiday approaches, the production aims to draw both longtime ghost-story fans and newcomers seeking a theatrical thrill.
