A Dream on Stage: Shen Yun Transports Bristol Audience

NTD Newsroom
Shen Yun
Shen Yun performed at the Bristol Hippodrome on Feb. 20 to a sold out theater. Some audience members said they felt like they were transported to another world.

Melanie Hamer, a solicitor, described it as “pure escapism.”

“I absolutely love it. It’s real escapism. I’ve had quite a hard day in the office today. So I’ve come here, and it’s just made me really chilled and relaxed. And it’s beautiful. It’s so colorful. It’s like, in a dream world,” she said.

Director Nick Williams said he was “entranced.”

“You lose yourself. You forget where you are. And the graphics are utterly amazing,” he said.

After coming to power in 1949, the Chinese Communist Party tried to destroy traditional Chinese culture. Through ancient legends and tales of modern-day courage, Shen Yun’s mission is to revive China’s authentic culture, which was almost lost. This means Shen Yun cannot perform in China today.

“It makes me sad that people can’t see it in China. That makes me really, really sad,” said Ms. Hamer. “Because I feel a bit guilty that we’re allowed to see it here, and Chinese people in China aren’t allowed to see it. So that’s really sad, but it’s good that we’re reminded of that as well.”

Shen Yun artists perform to a live orchestra, showcasing China’s rich culture and heritage through story-based dance.

Vijay Mehan, a solicitor, was impressed by the stories. “There was a bit of drama, a bit of comedy, a bit of virtue, and some beautiful storytelling, absolutely wonderful,” he said.

NTD News, Bristol, UK.

NTD is a media sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts, covering audience reactions since 2006.