On the evening of August 30th, the original dance drama "Wing Chun" from Shenzhen, Guangdong, made its UK debut at Sadler's Wells Theatre in London. The show will run for 12 performances until September 7th. Following its international debut in Singapore in 2023, this marks the second overseas tour for "Wing Chun." The blend of dance and martial arts captivated the London audience, who responded with sustained applause and cheers, with many expressing a desire to watch it again.

Kung fu enthusiasts flock to'Wing Chun' premiere

Chinese kung fu is renowned worldwide, and the UK is no exception in its admiration for the art form. Seven-year-old Stefania, a London native, has been teaching herself Wing Chun for two years and even demonstrated some moves at the event. Her father, Rafal Skorzewski, shared that Stefania's grandmother is of Chinese descent and has introduced her to Chinese history and culture from a young age. "She's fascinated by Chinese martial arts and the language, and hopes to visit China next year."

Londoner Islah Abdur-Rahman, a fan of both kung fu and Bruce Lee, was eager to see the performance. "I saw the announcement for 'Wing Chun' on social media, and I knew I had to come."

Another audience, Lucy, though unfamiliar with Wing Chun, was drawn to the show due to her love for the film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.""For me, it's all part of Chinese kung fu, and I wanted to see what Wing Chun is like."

Renowned dance producer Farooq Chaudhry also attended to congratulate the success of the London premiere of "Wing Chun." Chaudhry has previously collaborated with the English National Ballet and Chinese dance artist Yang Liping, among other prominent figures.

Spectacular performance earns multiple standing ovations

The performance was filled with thrilling moments, especially during the masterful duels between martial arts masters, which prompted rounds of applause and cheers from the audience. The poignant scene where "Porky Wing" sacrifices himself to protect Ip Man moved many to tears, with some audience still wiping their eyes as the show neared its end. The universal theme of justice resonated deeply, leaving both Eastern and Western audiences emotionally stirred. The performance received no fewer than ten standing ovations.

Rafal Skorzewski was particularly moved, saying, "The impact of 'Wing Chun' will stay with me for a long time. My daughter and I will definitely come back for a second viewing, and next time we'll get seats closer to the stage."

Sheila Nakiliza, another attendee, was struck by the powerful portrayal of Chinese culture. "Ip Man's story was beautifully captured through the choreography. The sound effects, music, dance, and costumes were all perfect. 'Wing Chun' has deepened my appreciation for Chinese culture."

'Wing Chun' set to tour Paris in October for its third overseas tour

"Wing Chun" first premiered at the Shenzhen Poly Theatre on December 22nd, 2022, receiving widespread acclaim. Since then, it has embarked on both national and international tours. With the 12 London performances, the total number of shows will reach 202.

Following the conclusion of its London run, "Wing Chun" will head to Paris for its third overseas tour. The performances are scheduled for October 4th-6th, 2024, at the Palais des Congrès.

《咏春》英国首演大受欢迎，观众直呼：要“二刷”！

当地时间8月30日晚，来自广东深圳的原创舞剧《咏春》在英国伦敦沙德勒之井剧院首演。接下来直至9月7日，《咏春》将在此演出12场。这是《咏春》自2023年在新加坡演出后，第二次出国演出。当晚，来自中国的“舞武相融”魅力深深打动了现场观众，剧场内掌声欢呼声经久不息，更有不少英国观众表示“要二刷”！

中国功夫迷齐聚《咏春》首演现场

中国功夫名扬四海，英国也有不少功夫迷。7岁的伦敦小女孩Stefania已经自学了两年咏春拳，还在现场一展拳脚。她的父亲Rafal Skorzewski告诉记者，Stefania外婆是一名华裔，从小家人就会向她讲述中国的历史故事，“她对中国武术和汉语很感兴趣，她希望明年可以亲自去中国亲眼看一看。”

伦敦市民Islah Abdur-Rahman既是中国功夫迷，也是李小龙的影迷，对咏春十分感兴趣。“我在社交平台上看到《咏春》的演出信息，一下就被击中了，我一定要来看一看。”

市民Lucy虽然不了解咏春，但是非常喜欢电影《卧虎藏龙》。“对我来说，这些都是中国功夫，想来看看咏春是什么样的。”

著名舞剧制作人法鲁克·乔杜里 (Farooq Chaudhry) 也到场祝贺《咏春》在伦敦首演成功。据了解，他曾经多次与英国国家芭蕾舞团和中国舞蹈家杨丽萍等著名艺术家和组织合作。

精彩演出赢得十多次满堂喝彩

整场演出高潮迭起，每当精彩时刻到来，特别是各门派宗师对决表演，引得现场观众多次鼓掌欢呼。当剧中的猪肉荣为叶问挡枪而死时，台下传来阵阵抽泣声，直到演出快结束时，仍有许多观众在擦眼泪，惩恶扬善的朴素价值观让东西方观众们都沉浸在感动和震撼中久久无法平静。一场表演下来，满堂喝彩不下十次。

Rafal Skorzewski激动地说：“《咏春》带来的震撼将在我的脑海中停留很久很久。我和女儿一定会再来看一遍的，下一次我们要买更靠近舞台的座位。”

观众Sheila Nakiliza从中感受到了强烈的中国文化魅力。她说：“叶问的故事通过非常艺术化的方式直观地反映在了舞蹈编排中，无论是音效、音乐，还是编舞、戏服，都非常完美。《咏春》让我更加欣赏中国文化了。”

《咏春》10月将赴巴黎第三次出海

2022年12月22日，《咏春》在深圳保利剧院首次亮相博得满堂彩。以此为起点，《咏春》开启了全国巡演、全球巡演的征程。此番《咏春》赴英演出12场，总演出场次将刷新至202场。

据悉，伦敦演出结束后，《咏春》还将准备第三次出海：2024年10月4日至6日，《咏春》将在巴黎会议宫开启全新旅程。

文、图丨记者 付怡 英国特约记者 余佳颖
翻译丨赵凡
英文审校丨林佳岱