Shen Yun Performing Arts took the stage at the Royal and Derngate theatre in Northampton on January 20th and 21st. Audience members were taken on a journey through 5,000 years of Chinese civilization.
“It took my breath away,” said therapist Kay Hughes. “At one point, I thought I couldn’t breathe, because it was just so amazing! There’s no other word for it, really.”
“I actually felt I wanted to cry quite a lot through it, because it was touching my heart so much, as well as the words, the story. The music has a whole range. Wonderful,” she added.
Manager of a housing provider, Alison Parry, said, “The dancing and the scenes and the visuals, it really took you through that journey and that timeline, and I think you felt, as an audience member, that you were in that moment. You weren’t in the present day.”
Richard Radwell, an engineer, said, “Absolutely superb. First impression was stunning, just as the curtains opened, it was absolute. … Lost for words, instant amazement.”
Traditional Chinese culture is considered by many to be divinely inspired. However, the Chinese communist party has sought to undermine traditional values and beliefs since it took power in 1949. Shen Yun presents ‘China Before Communism’ with the aim to keep this traditional Chinese wisdom alive.
“A lot of the performances had a traditional value that was embedded within them. So there [were morals] about how you need to be compassionate, kind, and they also taught the audience to be resilient as well,” said principal scientific officer Ju Lynne Saw.
“If you are kind, good will come to you, and if you are hopeful, things will turn out for the good,” said Alison Parry.
“I want to go out and be a little bit better and see the kindness in things. It’s amazing how something like that can really impact you. I just thought it was incredible.”
NTD News, Northampton, UK
NTD is a media sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts, covering audience reactions since 2006.
