Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent Thanks Shen Yun for an ‘Exhilarating’ Performance

NTD Newsroom
Shen Yun

Shen Yun Performing Arts graced the stage at the Regent Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent on Feb. 18 as part of its 2026 UK tour.

The Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, Steve Watkins, was in the audience.

“The most amazing show. It’s a while since I’ve seen this theater so full. So many people engaged in what they were seeing. It’s so colorful, it’s so vibrant, it’s so ambitious, and the fact that I’ve learned things since I’ve come here today,” he said.

Through classical Chinese dance, Shen Yun artists depict stories on stage from 5,000 years of divinely-inspired culture from China before communism.
Some of the pieces are inspired by modern-day events under communist oppression. This is one of the reasons why Shen Yun cannot perform in China today.

“As far as I’m concerned as the Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, we’re so pleased to have this fantastic company here, and we look forward to seeing them again,” he said.

The Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent presented Shen Yun artists with an award recognizing the company’s contribution to the city’s cultural life.

“We have the Lord Mayor’s special recognition certificate for this company of Shen Yun artists,” he said.

“I would just compliment them on their amazing hard work that I know underpins these shows. Wonderful performances, exhilarating performances. And please, please, just keep going and keep doing what you do and educating the world.”

“It’s wonderful. Thank you,” he added.

NTD News, Stoke-on-Trent, UK

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