Wing Chun, Sadler’s Wells Review
Written by Cathie for Theatre and Tonic.
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review. All opinions are our own.
It is impossible to think of modern martial arts without the legacy of Grandmaster YIP man. Most famous as the mentor of Bruce Lee, he is considered a legend and hero who popularised Wing Chun, a form of kung fu from Southern China. This is a visually stunning spectacle which fuses contemporary dance and multiple forms of martial arts into a beautiful demonstration of physical grace and prowess.
Wing Chun utilises the well-known play within a play format as we simultaneously see YIP man’s life unfold in Hong Kong and a film crew at the same time creating a powerful retelling of his life, (a clever nod to the IP man films of the 2010’s.) Therefore, we see multiple generations simultaneously and the impact of YIP man’s actions on his present 1950’s and our current world of 2024. This cast was truly phenomenal in showcasing all the different characters and personalities. They were also so incredibly graceful they looked as if they were floating across the stage and all their difficult twists, turns and jumps seemed completely effortless. This in tandem with the sweeping epic orchestral soundtrack held the audience literally spell bound throughout. I was thoroughly impressed by their incredible skills and also that the many female dancers' talents and martial expertise also were strongly featured.
The powerful moral themes of YIP man’s philosophy of helping others and the support of ordinary people chasing their dreams was also very well communicated to the audience in a positive and heartfelt way. My only minor quibble was that the pacing of the plot was not always consistent in maintaining tension and plot cohesiveness over the two hour running time. While the show is largely impressive, the pacing of the plot sometimes falters, particularly in the second half. Though visually stunning, this part of the production occasionally drifts into tangents exploring different martial arts forms and the illness and death of Yip Man’s wife, which slightly detracts from the narrative cohesion and tension.
The set was stylistically impressive in bringing all the details to life and elevating the production but was kept very minimalistic in order to give the most focus and heavy lifting to the dancers on stage. There are two small screens set on either side of the stage with text to support and explain the action on stage and to translate when Chinese Characters appear on the stage. These are readable from the sides of the theatre and are easily decipherable from the royal circle.
Although this is Wing Chun’s London debut at Sadler's Wells, it has been considered a cultural phenomenon for a long time, especially in China where it has broken many box office records and in the wider world it has been performed in 38 countries to over 250000 people. Therefore, with its strong dance background, Sadler's Wells is an ideal staging point to experience this show. If you enjoy sweeping historical epics that are a truly empowering love letter to YIP man and his achievements, the euphoric joy of martial arts, the importance of breaking down barriers to connect with and support our local and wider communities and the impact an individual can have long after his short stint on the earthly stage then I strongly recommend this show for you.
As Sadler’s Wells until 7th September 2024.
★ ★ ★ ★
