WOKING, U.K.—Angela Hume and Nigel Webb enjoyed a
Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking on Jan. 12. Ms. Hume, who manages international tax projects, said this is the second time she has seen the show, and she came back “because it was wonderful last time.” And this performance was what she expected. “It’s wonderful. It’s magical,” she said.
Mr. Webb, a retired pilot and engineer, said: “I didn’t think it would be the sort of thing that a man like me would enjoy. But I did. It’s superb. The dancing, and so on, is just second to none.”
Ms. Hume, who worked in Hong Kong for a time, said she enjoys Chinese music and liked what she heard during the performance. Mr. Webb is also familiar with the East. A car enthusiast, he once drove from Peking to Paris and learned a great deal about China. His travels took him through the Gobi Desert, Tibet, Nepal, India, and Pakistan.
Mr. Webb said the
final act, which shows the Creator coming to save people, impressed him greatly. “I just understood what it meant.”
He was concerned about what was happening in China today. “The way China has gone to where it is now is terribly sad—we all hope China improves,” he said.
Through classical Chinese dance and music,
Shen Yun is sharing with the world the beauty of China’s authentic 5,000 years of
history. Since its founding in 2006, the company has received worldwide accolades for its mission to revive traditional Chinese culture.
Today, he said he is taking home “our big learning.” Shen Yun’s mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture, and Mr. Webb heard that message. “It’s always important, isn’t it? In my heritage country, of any country, Any country.”
With
shows scheduled in over 200 cities and across five continents, the 2024 touring season is shaping up to be the artists’ busiest yet.
Reporting by Mary Mann and Yvonne Marcotte.
