SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Castle Manager Says Shen Yun One of the Best Shows He’s Seen

Feb 08, 2026

2/8/2026Updated: 2/8/2026

GLASGOW, Scotland—Benjamin Sharples, manager of Glenapp Castle hotel in South Ayrshire, Scotland, was blown away by New York’s Shen Yun Performing Arts.

“Absolutely incredible,” he said. “I came in with high expectations because of what I’ve seen and what I’ve heard, and it’s just blown my mind away,” he said at the SEC Armadillo on Jan. 7.

“The synchronicity of it all is sensational,” he added. “You can see the discipline that they use and the passion they have for it.”

Based in New York, Shen Yun is the world’s leading classical Chinese dance production. Featuring a live orchestra that blends Eastern and Western instrumentation, Shen Yun presents story-based dances inspired by China’s epic 5,000 years of culture and history.

Mr. Sharples was especially impressed with Shen Yun’s retelling of Chinese history. According to the company’s website, the performance consists of 20 pieces that move “from one legend, region, or dynasty to the next.”

“Chinese culture goes way deeper than what the normal person sees; it’s … steeped in history in so many different ways,” he said. “You can see it through the performance; each [piece] is very intricate, the way they bring [culture] out.”

“In my opinion, this is one of the best performances I’ve seen in any sort of theatre, especially the pride of the show within the culture,” he added.

Shen Yun Performing Arts' curtain call at the SEC Armadillo in Glasgow, Scotland, on Feb. 6, 2026. (Roger Luo/The Epoch Times) — Shen Yun Performing Arts' curtain call at the SEC Armadillo in Glasgow, Scotland, on Feb. 6, 2026. Roger Luo/The Epoch Times

Since 2006, Shen Yun has performed at top theatres around the world, on a mission to revive China’s ancient and spiritual culture. Demonstrating “China before communism,” Shen Yun is not allowed to perform in China.

Mr. Sharples commended Shen Yun for taking a stand against communism.

“They’re very brave to showcase that communism is bad, which goes against a lot of the way we’ve been taught recently,” he said. “So, not only strength, but it’s an incredible show and sign of willpower to showcase what China used to be before communism was around.

“It’s definitely going to make us think deeper in terms of the culture and what’s going on,” he added.

Mr. Sharples said that Chinese culture is not as accessible to the Scottish people, and he believes that Shen Yun’s performances are making a significant impact.

“The Chinese culture, especially here, is very much secluded, so we don’t get to see a lot of it,” he said. “This is an amazing way to showcase it, which is a sensation.”

“It’s incredible to see that and to break that barrier so that people can come and see it,” he said.

Reporting by NTD and Jennifer Schneider.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.