BOURNEMOUTH, UK—Shen Yun Performing Arts amazed the audience as the curtain opened at the Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre on Feb. 13.

John Thornley, a representative for Electromedia Pages, said, “Absolutely loving it.”

He was amazed “when they jumped into the screen, and then they went off in the in the actual screen. Absolutely amazing. Actually, I wasn’t expecting that. I was expecting fabulous dance.”

He said the performers’ skill and expertise made the performance special to him. “I absolutely think they’re coming across so really professional. They are very enthusiastic.”

Mr. Thornley expressed his thoughts on Shen Yun’s message of hope. “I think a modern future. Let’s not forget the past, but let’s move forward and hopefully have more peace, especially in this dire world,” he said.

Time seemed to fly by for Keith Lenton, a therapist, who had a very positive impression of Shen Yun. “Fantastic! Unbelievable. I’ve not experienced anything like it before.”

Mr. Lenton said Shen Yun seemed to be from another dimension. “It doesn’t look real. I had to keep looking. It just doesn’t look real. Incredible.”

He said the storytelling was “superb, superb,” especially with introductions given by the emcees. “It’s a nice little touch to introduce before each section. Very good.”

Mr. Lenton said he especially enjoyed the story of Pigsy, a character from the Chinese classic, “Journey to the West.” “I like the pig man. Fantastic. Very good. That was the one. I shall remember that for a long time,” he said.

Shen Yun’s live orchestra features a harmonious combination of Eastern and Western instruments that Mr. Lenton enjoyed. He said the music was “incredible because it’s timeless. It really is, how it matches in with what the [dancers] are doing. It’s unbelievable to think they’re actually real. How they move; they’re so flexible. Incredible.”

To friends and family, Mr. Lenton would encourage them “to come and see it. Definitely, because I didn’t experience anything like this before.”