A Journey to the West at Rosemary Branch Theatre

What's this? An original play using mystical Eastern face-changing opera to dissect modern youth’s ‘protective violence’ with parents?

Meet Xiao Hua : A coddled man-child, raised in a bubble of parental perfection, gets thrown into London's chaotic uni life by an unexpected twist. In this globe-trotting psychodrama of independence vs. filial obedience — will the overgrown baby survive the smotherhood, or will Tiger parents reach conquer all? Place your bets.

In this genre-blending, emotionally charged production reimagines Journey to the West as a coming-of-age psychodrama for the globalized Gen Z.

Traditional Sichuan Opera face-changing becomes a powerful metaphor for fractured identity. Digital projections and electronic soundscapes collide with ancient motifs, visualizing the tension between cultural heritage and global ambition.