Reviews 

London

“a delicate and imaginative reflection on grief and homecoming. It offers space to sit with longing, and perhaps, to find a quiet kind of peace within it.”

Reviews Hub

★★★★ London Pub Theatres

“Bonni Chan portrays a rare gem of a fragile sensitive soul.” 

“Must I cry” is almost an invitation to the audience to look within themselves to find or to rediscover that which may have been lost in adulthood… The tragedy is not that when she returns to her homeland, she finds the city landscape is ever changing, but that she is struggling with retaining memories of her late father.

★★★★ Morning Star

Theatre du Pif’s lyrical show is derived from the works of celebrated Hong Kong writer XiXi and her typical themes of nostalgia, identity and the impact of modern society… The distress of losing her past is imaginatively linked to the death of the last male northern white rhino… This affecting drama leaves one thinking about one’s own connections to the past in a constantly changing world.

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​Avignon Festival Off

“An intimate and universal work, to be discovered.”

Laprovence

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Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024​

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ North West End UK

"This show gives a masterful lesson in how to utilise all forms of artistry to create an immersive, cohesive, dreamscape."

“The poetry which inspired this work absolutely comes alive and flourishes on stage – each aspect was crafted to literally be poetry in motion.”

“This is a one-of-a-kind show which I feel has been a criminally underrated pick at the Fringe.  Must I Cry shows us that a Fringe show can have perfectly polished and meaningful production aspects despite the confined and stripped back nature of production the Fringe requires.  It is a must see.”

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★ ★ ★ ★ ThreeWeeks Edinburgh 

“The title ‘Must I Cry’, subtle yet profound, reflects the deep connection between memory, home and love.” 

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★ ★ ★ ★ Edinburgh Festival Magazine

“The technical elements complemented the storytelling from Chan flawlessly. On stage we have live music from the talented Lay Chi-Bun who uses a variation of percussion instruments and accordion to create a live accompaniment. This applied with the use of soft sound effects and use of projection creates the most impressive multimedia experience.”

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“This show is an underrated masterpiece and truly highlights the literacy works of Xi Xi, it is an essential watch for those around in these last few festival days.”

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Audience feedback from Hong Kong Show

“An elegant theatrical poem, simple, gentle, pure, and moving.”

“Concise words, concise arrangement. Stirring up huge waves. Directly striking the heart.”

“Poetic, moving and visually stunning piece about memories and loss.”

“"If I hadn't seen this performance, I might regret it for a lifetime." 

“This production utilizes a blend of multimedia techniques to deliver a stunning sensory experience. Each scene resonates deeply, allowing me to profoundly understand the pain and longing that comes with the loss of a loved one." Tim Lam, Jewellery Designer

“A beautiful poetic, thought-provoking performance” Candice Moore, Director/ Performer

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