BRISBANE, Australia—Brisbane audiences gave Shen Yun a warm welcome to its northern tropical environs at the Queensland Conservatorium Theatre on April 9.
Located in South Bank, Brisbane’s popular tourist destination, the Conservatorium Theatre is part of Brisbane’s premier arts precinct and is noted for its acoustic quality.
It was Shen Yun’s opening performance in Queensland as part of the Australian leg of the New York-based company’s international tour and members of the Sunshine State audience had travelled across borders and around the state to see the show.
Some had come from Toowoomba, up the range two hours from Brisbane, others from Boonah, an hour south of the busy capital city, but all were happy they had driven the distance to see Shen Yun.
David and his two-year-old son Jake had crossed the border from Casuarina Beach in New South Wales.
David, who runs a resort there, said he had a martial arts background and was happy to bring his son to see something “cultural” and a “little different.”
He was very glad he had made the effort for himself and his son.
“It’s beautiful,” said David, noting that Jake thought so too.
Many, including David, acknowledged Shen Yun’s content, saying it was important and more Australians should see the show.
Mr Lawson was particularly impressed, saying, “I think more Australians should see this show to get some sort of an understanding and depth of feeling about Chinese culture.”
Mr Lawson had worked in the Queensland Parliament as a parliamentary librarian for many years and said that he had seen many politicians come and go.
Located in South Bank, Brisbane’s popular tourist destination, the Conservatorium Theatre is part of Brisbane’s premier arts precinct and is noted for its acoustic quality.
It was Shen Yun’s opening performance in Queensland as part of the Australian leg of the New York-based company’s international tour and members of the Sunshine State audience had travelled across borders and around the state to see the show.
Some had come from Toowoomba, up the range two hours from Brisbane, others from Boonah, an hour south of the busy capital city, but all were happy they had driven the distance to see Shen Yun.
David and his two-year-old son Jake had crossed the border from Casuarina Beach in New South Wales.
David, who runs a resort there, said he had a martial arts background and was happy to bring his son to see something “cultural” and a “little different.”
He was very glad he had made the effort for himself and his son.
“It’s beautiful,” said David, noting that Jake thought so too.
Many, including David, acknowledged Shen Yun’s content, saying it was important and more Australians should see the show.
Mr Lawson was particularly impressed, saying, “I think more Australians should see this show to get some sort of an understanding and depth of feeling about Chinese culture.”
Mr Lawson had worked in the Queensland Parliament as a parliamentary librarian for many years and said that he had seen many politicians come and go.
He also had a good sense of history, noting Chinese people’s long connection with Australia.
“When you look at the historical input Chinese people have made to this country, it is quite remarkable. They practically came over on the first fleet,” he said.
Mr Lawson said Shen Yun offered a good insight into traditional Chinese culture, noting, “Visually, when the curtain goes up, it just hits you, the colour and the whole pageantry of the thing.
“It is a wonderful effort, there is no doubt about it.”
He felt the traditional stories had offered him a glimpse of “rural life,” while the contemporary scene depicting the persecution of a Falun Gong practitioner in China was “a very good mirror of what is going on currently.”
“As the economy of China grows, there hasn’t been any diminution of the persecution of Chinese people,” he said. “In fact, it has grown.”
“This is very much there, in evidence, and I think this is often forgotten,” he said.
Mr Lawson said the contemporary scene had made him aware of how much Chinese people valued family and he thought this was a good message for Australian people.
He said he would encourage others to see Shen Yun.
“I will tell them they should come along and see it. It’s just thoroughly entertaining from start to finish. Altogether, it is a beautiful spectacle,” he said.
“When you look at the historical input Chinese people have made to this country, it is quite remarkable. They practically came over on the first fleet,” he said.
Mr Lawson said Shen Yun offered a good insight into traditional Chinese culture, noting, “Visually, when the curtain goes up, it just hits you, the colour and the whole pageantry of the thing.
“It is a wonderful effort, there is no doubt about it.”
He felt the traditional stories had offered him a glimpse of “rural life,” while the contemporary scene depicting the persecution of a Falun Gong practitioner in China was “a very good mirror of what is going on currently.”
“As the economy of China grows, there hasn’t been any diminution of the persecution of Chinese people,” he said. “In fact, it has grown.”
“This is very much there, in evidence, and I think this is often forgotten,” he said.
Mr Lawson said the contemporary scene had made him aware of how much Chinese people valued family and he thought this was a good message for Australian people.
He said he would encourage others to see Shen Yun.
“I will tell them they should come along and see it. It’s just thoroughly entertaining from start to finish. Altogether, it is a beautiful spectacle,” he said.
Shen Yun will perform five more shows in Brisbane before going on to New Zealand.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Shen Yun Performing Arts 2009 World Tour. For more information please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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