Last updated: 17 July 2023
Twenty-five Shaolin monks take to the stage at the Peacock Theatre performing acts in an extravaganza of martial arts. It’s been seven years since their last performance in London it’s apparently now bigger and better than ever before.
The production kicks off with a voice over. Deep bass drums beat as the Monks, adorned in traditional orange robes and shaved heads take to the stage. The narration loosely explains how they train for years at the Shaolin temple, the home of kung fu, in Dengfeng China.
As each monk approaches his challenge, he mentally prepares himself for the challenge ahead. There’s the outward appearance of peace with an aura of harmony. However I wonder, if inside his heart must be beating as hard and as fast as the dramatic music bellowing through the speakers to build suspense. The Monks spin, jump and kick high into the air; using sticks or one another as springs to gain leverage and momentum. There is an agility and a strength displayed that is formidable.
The Buddhist meditation, focus and rigorous training clearly pays off. There are physical and mental barriers each Monk must overcome are evident. Tasks such as walking across metal blades while carrying heavy buckets of water or completing pushups on just two forefingers just to name a few.
That’s where the astonishing feats end. Flimsy props alongside Monks brandishing wobbly tinfoil swords, it’s almost comedic. The slicing melons in half to display the sharpness of the steel blades. They’re conveniently sliced exactly in half, it’s almost too perfect. The whole spectacle reminds me of a throwback to a 1980s kungfu movie.
It’s all rather trite. The choreography is over done, it feels like a garish peacock dance of showmanship, while the dramatic lighting and climactic sound feels more like a Las Vegas magic show. I watch the combat scenes and wonder is it meant to be this cheesy? Surely punches and kicks aren’t meant to miss by a mile? It’s so staged its painful to watch. It’s the first production where I’ve seen a “fight” scene end mid centre stage & fighters walk-off rather than carry on in character until they’re into the wings & out of view from the house. Deliberate? I’m still left wondering.
While their floor routine & acrobatics are better than I could ever dream of achieving personally, there’s an obvious amateur feel when compared to the big names of performance theatre. The likes of Cirque du Soleil leaves Shaolin for dead.
Towards the end of the show, the final scenes bring me back to Earth. It’s how it should have been from the beginning, engaging! Easily, the best scene of the entire production was two small children, each standing on one leg with the other flexed and raised above their heads. They stood still in the corners of the stage, like garden gnomes. As if just an ornament to the combat scenes taking place on centre stage. Like it or not, they stole the show. Everyone was amazed by the unbroken concentration from children clearly under 8, balancing for over three minutes by which time I lost count.
Final thoughts
Overall the characters dance around the term martial arts/performance rather loosely. Yes granted they have worked hard to be as good as they are, but with little insight into the plot or context as to who the Shaolin really are and why they’re here on stage today, I left wanting more. Had the entire performance been even remotely close to the last ten minutes it might have been worthwhile. Overall it feels unoriginal, over rehearsed and tired.
The Essentials | Shaolin
- When: Tickets are on sale from now until 17 October 2015.
- Where: Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street, Holborn, WC2A 2HT
- Transport: Nearest Tube station is Holborn. A myriad of buses are available from the Aldwych nearby.
- Cost: Tickets from £15.
- Verdict: It’s a generous 3* from me.
