MANCHESTER, UK—Robert Bolt and Darran Haigh were excited to see Shen Yun Performing Arts live at the Palace Theatre on Jan. 16 after having an awareness of it for many years, and seeing trailers of the performance online. They noticed the audience all around them at the Palace Theatre certainly were as well.

“Absolutely amazing. The production, the dancing, the graphics that went into the background ... the people who were doing the show were absolutely wonderful. So committed to it and excited to do it,” said Mr. Bolt, a detective of international organized crime. “Audience around me was quite excited by it all. Far better than I even expected.”

Mr. Haigh, an IT specialist, agreed, saying the performance, with its various innovative aspects, was “absolutely fantastic” and “absolutely phenomenal.”

Mr. Haigh said he “1000 percent” felt the artists conveyed compassion, and it resonated with not only him but likely around the world.

“It’s hitting the correct note,” he said, adding that this is probably why Shen Yun has become so successful, with now eight groups simultaneously touring the world.

The culture before communism was one of “love and honor,” said Mr. Haigh.

Sadly, Mr. Bolt added, that is no longer the culture, but the performance showed that “hopefully, gradually, and they return.”