Andy Cheung

Andy as Qi Shi in 'Bo and the Spirit World'

Andy is to play the role of Qi-Shi the game maker in an episode of the new BBC fantasy series Bo and the Spirit World. The series is currently in production and will air in 2010.

Press Release

Childrens’ BBC announces a bold new children’s drama series, Bo And The Spirit World, which will be set in a mythical fantasy realm and will draw inspiration from ancient Chinese myths and legends.

Bo And The Spirit World has been commissioned by Anne Gilchrist, Controller of CBBC.

Anne says: “Inspired by Yimou Zhang’s House Of Flying Daggers and Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon we wanted to bring our CBBC audience the visual spectacle and exciting adventure of an ambitious drama set in Ancient China.

“Viewers will be drawn into a fantastical world with brave and enterprising children taking the lead in an amazing quest. It will be like nothing ever seen before on Children’s television.”

The series, which has been created by up-and-coming writer Jo Ho, will introduce viewers to the character of Bo, a young British Chinese girl, who, accompanied by her brother Timothy, gets transported to a magical spirit world.

Armed with super heroic powers the pair must go on a quest with their friends to save not only their own grandma but the entire universe from their arch enemy Li and his shadow ninjas.

Bo And The Spirit World will use the latest digital technology to create an original and exciting new series for CBBC’s 6 to 12-year-old audience.

Bo And The Spirit World will be executive produced and directed by Jon East, whose previous CBBC credits include Summerhill and the Children’s BAFTA winner That Summer Day.

Speaking about the series, Jon says: “Bo And the Spirit World is another first for CBBC drama, a totally new kind of drama that poses some exciting technological and editorial challenges by virtue of its fantasy setting.

“We’re hoping to deliver a series that, besides thrills and laughs, also possesses real heart and a fresh and contemporary feel, drawing from the rich heritage of Chinese culture.”

Filming for the series will begin in April 2009 and is an in-house production for CBBC Drama.

Andy Cheung is certainly a man of many talents. Having already excelled in the field of acting, he has also been keen to try his hand at play-writing. His comedy, Keeping Up With The Wongs, opened to positive audience reactions in November, as part of the Yellow Voices initiative. It tells the story of a British Chinese family who compete against their new neighbours, who are immigrants from mainland China.

The play-writing process is certainly an interesting experience, and one which is different for each individual writer. Whilst some playwrights might find that they are able to pen their latest production alone whilst sitting in a busy café or playing games of Party Poker, other require a far more serene setting, and perhaps the assistance of a tutor or mentor. There are usually several complete drafts before a play is ready for a read-through – and even then, many subsequent edits may take place. Andy is keen to offer his readers an unique insight into his own play-writing process and experience.

Read about Andy’s experience writing the theatre comedy ‘Keeping Up With The Wongs’ on the Sustained Theatre website: article here

Voice clip from the BBC documentary series 20th Century Battles.

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Excerpts from the short comedy ‘Cinema of Horror’ directed by Peter Kershaw and produced by Duchy Parade Films.

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