SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun ‘Enhances What the World Is Looking For,’ Says Former Company Director

Jan 10, 2025

LONDON—Shen Yun’s performance enchanted the audience at the Eventim Apollo on Jan. 10. Among the audience was Michael Tonge, former owner and director of a packaging company. “I thought it was quite spectacular. Never seen anything quite like it before,” he said.

Mr. Tonge and his wife traveled from North Lincolnshire to see Shen Yun. He said he had seen Shen Yun advertised earlier on a visit to San Francisco and had to come.

“As soon as we came back to the UK, and all of a sudden, it was advertised in the UK. So absolutely, so we thought we'll organize a couple of tickets, and here we are now.”

Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company. Based in New York, its artists are dedicated to reviving China’s 5,000 years of divinely inspired culture.

Shen Yun’s opening performance showed the creation of Chinese culture, which impressed Mr. Tonge. “I’m wowed by most things that we’re seeing today, and [the opening scene] is quite unusual and obviously very spiritual.”

Shen Yun’s mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture before communism, a culture related to the Divine and spirituality. Something that Mr. Tonge agreed was a good thing.

“Deep down, I think it can only be good. I think we need to have more insight into other nations’ way of life, and what they do, and what they believe in. I think it can only enhance what the whole world is looking for,” he said.

The performance’s live orchestra impressed him, and its animated 3D backdrop was a surprise. “It gives it another scope and something that I wasn’t expecting, especially when obviously actors drop down at the back, and then all of a sudden they transport. It seems very good from the timing and everything else,” Mr. Tonge said.

He said he was not familiar with stories from ancient China, but he could follow the performances that included them once he learned their historical details as relayed by Shen Yun’s emcees.

“Haven’t read up about any of the stories and things like that. So, yeah, it did help quite considerably,” he said.

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.