‘We Were All Divine Before We Came to Earth’: Scottish Theatergoer
Feb 16, 2024
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Mary Fairgrieve and Colin Paterson attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at SEC Armadillo, in Glasgow, on Feb. 14, 2024. (Mary Mann/The Epoch Times)
GLASGOW, Scotland—The evening show of Shen Yun Performing Arts delighted the audience at SEC Armadillo in Glasgow, on Feb. 14. Colin Paterson and Mary Fairgrieve enjoyed the whole performance.
Ms. Fairgrieve, an artist, said, “I love the interaction of the live dancers with the digital sets. They’re really interesting. It’s a new concept, I really love it. I’ve never seen it before,” she said. Shen Yun’s presentation includes an interactive backdrop that is a part of the dance.
Ms. Fairgrieve works in two-dimensional mediums. With her artistic background, she loved how the production was put together. “Oh, I love it. I love the way that you have put everything together. It’s amazing.”
Chinese culture inspired Ms. Fairgrieve. “It’s always interesting to learn about the cultures of other countries, definitely. And it’s lovely to see. I really appreciated the opportunity to experience some other cultures. They’re wonderful,” she said.
Mr. Paterson felt the connection with spiritual dimensions, especially in China’s culture before communism and its connection with the divine and heaven. “I do think that the spiritual aspect comes across very well, and I think it explains an awful lot about Chinese society,” he said. “We were all divine before we all came to earth.”
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.
Ms. Fairgrieve said, “I think that the world could really go back a few centuries and take some inspiration from these ideas and ideals.”
Shen Yun promotes traditional values, and Mr. Paterson believes they are important today. “I’m a great believer in traditional values. Society nowadays needs to look at itself. Particularly young people need to actually focus more on working.”
Ms. Fairgrieve appreciated all aspects of the production, especially the performers. “Thank you so much for the beauty and the discipline, and for working very hard. Thank you very much.”
To the Shen Yun Artists: ‘We Think You’re All Phenomenal’
A group of caregivers attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at SEC Armadillo, in Glasgow, on Feb. 14, 2024. (Mary Mann/The Epoch Times)
A happy group attended Shen Yun’s performance in Glasgow. Alison Fletcher, an adult caregiver, said the group was from Helensburgh and Lamond Carers. Ms. Fletcher said that everyone in the group cares for loved ones at home. “We thoroughly enjoyed the show,” she said. “This is a nice break for them, a wee break from their caring role, and a bit of relaxation.”
She and others in the group said how much they enjoyed dances with flowers and fans. “We go to a Tai Chi group every week for relaxation, and we do some fan work. So, yes, we thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Ms. Fletcher and her group enjoy Chinese culture, but said she was not aware that Shen Yun is banned in China. “We all [practice] every week at Tai Chi, and we have different Chinese teas. So we are all very interested in Chinese culture. It’s a privilege to see it outside of China,” she said.
Traditionally, China had a spiritual culture—a deep connection with the divine.
Chris Godwin, a Tai Chi instructor with the group, appreciates Chinese culture, and said, “Because I know a wee bit about Chinese history, I felt as though I was watching something that was very, very old, very traditional.”
He said he resonated with the spiritual aspects of Chinese culture, as well as martial arts. “Because, as you know, traditional Chinese theater always has a strong link between the spiritual and the theater,” he said.
“And, also, there was also a strong link between martial arts, the theater, and the spiritual.” Mr. Godwin said, “The communists came up with a category: They called it Qigong.”
Mr. Godwin provided an older term for giqong. “The old, old term is Daoyin Yangsheng, [which translated means] ‘cultivating life.’”
Mr. Godwin noted that Buddhism “has always been a part of Chinese culture from the third century.” He was glad that Shen Yun is reviving traditional Chinese culture. “I think it’s very much bringing back to life a very, very old Chinese tradition,” he said.
To the performers, Ms. Fletcher said: “Thank you very much. We think you’re all phenomenal. Just can’t thank you enough. It’s wonderful. Thank you.”
With shows scheduled in over 200 cities and across five continents, the 2024 touring season is shaping up to be the artists’ busiest yet.
