NEZHA – A New Hip-Pop Musical London Premiere
8–9 January 2026
The Shaw Theatre
Prof Cheng Yu, Director of UK Chinese Music Ensemble, as the pipa and guqin soloist, is invited to perform in the London premiere of NEZHA, a bold new hip-pop musical inspired by the legendary warrior god of Chinese mythology.
With an electrifying score by Duncan Walsh Atkins and a new book by Teresa Luo and Jennifer Tang, the production blends modern musical theatre, rap, and East Asian storytelling traditions. Traditional Chinese instruments are placed alongside an energetic electric band, creating a striking cross-cultural soundscape.
As the only acoustic instrumentalist within the pop ensemble, Cheng Yu brings the expressive voice of the pipa and guqin into a contemporary theatrical setting, exploring new musical dialogues between tradition and modernity.
“The participation of UK-based pipa soloist Cheng Yu adds a distinctive Eastern musical character to the score. 旅英琵琶演奏家程玉的加入为配乐注入了极具特色的东方韵味。” — People’s Daily 人民网
Performance Times:
Thursday 8 January 2026 – 3:00pm & 7:00pm
Friday 9 January 2026 – 3:00pm
Venue: The Shaw Theatre 100–110 Euston Road, London NW1 2AJ
Language: English
Running Time: 90 minutes
Age Suitability: 10+
