SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Friends Enjoy Traditional Chinese Culture at Shen Yun’s Performance

Jan 31, 2025

EDINBURGH, UK—Shen Yun Performing Arts performed at the Edinburgh Playhouse on Jan. 31 to a delighted audience. Among them were a group of friends, Peter and Susan Galbraith and Francisco Garcia, who thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Ms. Galbraith, who works in insurance, felt a close connection to Chinese culture.

“It’s really good!” she said. “It’s a really good cultural experience. My brother is living in China, so it’s really nice for us to see a little bit of Chinese culture. And the costumes are amazing.”

Mr. Galbraith, who works in compliance, said, “I had a great time! Yeah, I went to China about 10 years ago, so it’s really nice to reconnect with the culture because I haven’t been there for a decade. It’s nice to see a little bit about really classical parts of China and learn about that through dance.”

Each of the friends talked about which experiences stood out for them. “I like the one where the clothes of the princess got stolen,” said Ms. Galbraith. “The love story, yes! It was really nice.”

Mr. Garcia liked the story of the Monkey King as the character jumped in and out of the stage’s digital backdrop. “The monkey was very fun. I really like it. And I like this idea of jumping into the screen from the stage,” he said.

“That’s like how holograms work, actually. That’s interesting. I haven’t seen that before,” Mr. Galbraith said.

The digital screen is a Shen Yun patented invention that allows performers to appear as they are traveling back and forth between the stage and the backdrop.

Mr. Garcia said he had never seen a digital screen be used in such a way before. “So that was very interesting. And then when they’re going out of the screen to the stage as well, it’s very well synchronized,” he said.

The training and artistry of the dancers was noted. “The consistency of the dances is like next level,” said Mr. Gailbraith. “It’s phenomenal. Actually, the training, because it’s all in the—I guess synchronicity is the word, right?”

Shen Yun’s missionis to revive traditional Chinese culture before communism. Shen Yun features dances from ancient China as well as the modern world to make the message relevant today.

“I think it’s always nice to see traditional dance, whether it be Scottish or Irish dance, or, like Spanish dance, you know,” said Ms. Gailbraith.

Mr. Galbraith saw the connection of dance in different cultures. “Dance is a big part of Scottish culture, with the Scottish reels. So it’s nice to see the dance parts of the Chinese culture,” he said.

“And obviously, we don’t get a huge amount of exposure from the East, so it’s nice to see classical dance from the East come to the West.”

Senior Project Administrator Says Shen Yun is Both Ancient and Modern

Dorothy Gilfillan and Gwen Clark attended Shen Yun Performings Arts at the Edinburgh Playhouse, Scotland, on Jan. 31, 2025. (Jenna/The Epoch Times) — Dorothy Gilfillan and Gwen Clark attended Shen Yun Performings Arts at the Edinburgh Playhouse, Scotland, on Jan. 31, 2025. Jenna/The Epoch Times

Gwen Clark, a senior project administrator, and her friend Dorothy Gilfillan, who is retired, loved the presentation, especially the stories.

“The show is fabulous,” said Ms. Gilfillan. “Absolutely fabulous. I love the way that they’re doing the small stories, the different stories. The dancing and the colors of the costumes are amazing.”

Ms. Clark was also impressed.

“Amazing, I mean, they’re so precise as well; you just can’t keep your eyes off it. And the animation [is] absolutely brilliant! That was really well put together. Really, really good,” she said.

Ms. Gilfillan also loved the digital backdrop that worked with the dancers. “The animation was really, really good,” she said.

Ms. Clark said she felt connected to several dances as she had ballet training when she was younger. “I can’t take a favorite. I did ballet. I started ballet when I was three years old and did it until I was 18. Not professional. No, no, no, no. Just done it all my childhood. But I relate to it, and I’m honestly just thoroughly enjoying it,” Ms. Clark said.

On the artistic level, as well as technical ability, Ms. Clark said. “Their technical ability is superb. They’re so ... I think it’s just where they go … and move so effortlessly. It’s like they’re floating,” she said.

Ms. Gillfillan favored the floating-sleeves dance. “Oh brilliant, the water one was lovely,” she said.

Ms. Clark appreciated the color of the costumes, which she said was so vivid.

She said this was the first time she had seen Shen Yun and that she would come again. “They’re doing a terrific job. Love it, and certainly, we'll come back. We would see it again,” she said.

Shen Yun’s mission is to revive traditional culture before communism. Ms. Clark said traditional values presented in the performance are still relevant today.

“Yeah, I think they’ve got it in both worlds ... It’s a combination, really,” she said.

Both ladies had appreciative words for the performers.

“Thank you very much for giving us such a lovely evening. We really appreciate it. It’s so beautiful,” said Ms. Gillfillan.

“And keep up the good work. Keep going. Enjoy,” said Ms. Clark.

Reporting by Jenna and Yvonne Marcotte.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.