Physical Theatre

Yellow Earth
Running The Silk Road

Written by Paul Sirett
Conceived and directed by David Tse ka-shing

A group of friends set themselves an epic challenge: to run the ancient trading route to China for the opening of the Beijing Olympics. Once on the road, complications and conflict test friendships and soon threaten their chances of success.

Exhilarating, refreshing and richly visual, Running the Silk Road blends East and West, telling a modern story highlighted by magical and timeless myths, spectacularly performed by artists of the Beijing Opera Theatre.

Performed in English and Mandarin with surtitles.


Experience something new...Beijing Opera.

Beijing Opera is a form of traditional Chinese theatre combining a number of disciplines.  Unlike European opera, the emphasis is as much on the physical as the musical and performers tend to be astonishingly acrobatic.  Although highly ritualised, one thing that surprises is how earthy and humorous much of their work is...not just something for the educated elite. 

Running The Silk Road stars three performers from the highly prestigious Beijing Opera Theatre.  Shen Feng and the award-winning Yanzhong Huang are experts in clowning, acrobatics and marshall arts (unarmed combat, spears and swords) and Gongxin Lan particularly skilled in song, movement and dance. 

These performers use their skills in new and surprising ways, presenting the visions in the play as well as to bringing vivid life the two Beijing Opera set pieces based on epic Chinese myth. 

Ticket Information

Tickets are £7 (£5 concessions).
All seating in Stage 2 is unreserved.

Money-back guarantee (click for more details)

Recommended ages 12+

Stage 2

Tue 28 - Sat 31 May  8pm

Post-show discussion Wed 28 May