LONDON—Laurence Maxwell, from Luton, is a freelance journalist who works part time with young people on creative projects. He came with girlfriend Sch Hui Yong to the Saturday night performance of the Chinese Spectacular at London's Royal Festival Hall.
Laurence had never been to a show like this before and found the Spectacular completely different to the music events and theatre he attends regularly.
"I thought the choreography was amazing. It was very tight choreography but I knew a little bit about Chinese arts, I knew the costumes were important. The use of sleeves and things like that just goes back to ancient opera but I've never actually seen anything myself, I just knew about it. So I really enjoyed it."
Laurence was especially impressed with Nymphs of the Sea.
"The water fan was really beautiful because it was very effective and it's amazing how you can use no digital technology at all for that. It was just materials and it's fantastic that you can do that. I suppose it's a more natural way of performing something which is quite interesting.
"There was the screen at the back which enhanced what was going on so you can imagine a wider panorama but I don't think it was overdone. I think that was quite good. There was a reliance on human-to-human art form."
Sch Hui Yong was born in Malaysia but her sisters are from Mainland China. "I haven't had any experience watching this kind of show before and that is why I'm here. It was really nice."
Yong was very impressed by the music.
"It's very well composed. It reminds me of my Chinese cultural tradition because I didn't get to go back to celebrate Chinese new year this year so it gives me all the more reason to come."
"What touches me most is the lyrics of the songs, I get to see it and I can feel it straight away. It made me realise how important my cultural tradition really is."
For information about upcoming Divine Performing Arts shows, please visit:
www.DivinePerformingArts.org.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Chinese Spectacular. For our complete coverage please visit:
http://en.epochtimes.com/features/dpa2008/
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