THEATRE
SHEN YUN Celebrating Chinese music and dance far away from home
A show celebrating a country’s cultural heritage that’s not allowed to perform in its homeland sounds preposterous. But the reality is you’re more likely to see Shen Yun in a small town in the US or Europe than in Beijing. Based in upstate New York, the company behind the show is populated by classically trained Chinese artists from around the world, all keen to revive their country’s traditional culture through performance.
It’s something that the government in China isn’t happy about, due to Shen Yun’s references to spirituality, and claims of attempted sabotage while the show is on tour abound. Determined to carry on regardless,
the organisation now has i ve large touring companies working its way around the world, one of which is heading to Edinburgh. Featuring over 50 dancers, musicians, singers and emcees, the show looks back over thousands of years of Chinese history, exploring its stories, legends and folk traditions.
Backed by a live orchestra, playing a combination of western symphonic and traditional Chinese instruments, and wearing over 400 handmade costumes, the dancers will deliver 15 short pieces, each with its own style and setting. (Kelly Apter) ■ Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Sun 20 & Mon 21 May.
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1 Apr–31 May 2018 THE LIST 95