Comments and reviews

'A very good place to start if you want to understand China', Cindy Yu, The Spectator (Full review here)

'Beguiling...fascinating... This is a show to see,' Libby Purves (Full review here)

'I met a woman this morning who’d been to the play with three friends. I exaggerate not, her praise was ecstatic! They all loved it. I, of course,  basked in the reflected glory!' Dave Carter, Sedgeford Village Hall

‘Everyone should watch this,’ Baroness Gillian Shephard

‘A stimulating and original show,’ Jonathan Freedland, Guardian and Radio 4

‘Historically fascinating and beautifully written,’ David Haig, actor and writer

‘The storytelling is brilliant, I learned new things about my own history,’ Yang Junting, theatre professional

‘Brilliantly conceived, written, and acted. Unexpectedly high production values, expertly executed. Not to mention thought-provoking, sad, funny, and both culturally and politically relevant today.’ Susan Crook, exec producer and author

‘Lovely writing and performances. Great staging, economical and effective.’ Sally Woodcock, producer, MESH Theatre

‘Remarkable… pulled off beautifully with great presence and charisma… a fascinating dive into history through contemporary characters, alive and hugely human.’ Simon Daykin Director, Wells Maltings Theatre

‘Tour de force… loved the historical elements.’ Sue Bishop, Former British Consul General, Shanghai

‘Witty, informative, interesting and at times risqué. Good fun and fascinating – an outstanding solo performance – brilliantly delivered.’ W.B., Maddermarket Theatre audience member

'Intriguing and informative... sometimes uncomfortable. Kitto's research is evident and he walks a line of sensitive impartiality with rare skill.' David King, formerly on the board of the China Britain Business Council

'Remarkable! Natural and fluent... particularly loved the Chinese character... so Chinese, so vivid. I was apprehensive I would be provoked. It is a painful and sensitive period of history. Once I felt safe with your standing, I was led by the performance and enjoyed it thoroughly.' Anon, London Chinese Community leader

‘This particularly resonant one-man play performed by Mark Kitto was a triumph of immersive theatre bringing to life three very different characters in a wholly believable and convincing manner - Highly enjoyable and thought provoking.’  David Bennett, Director, Stansted Park

This astonishing production delighted the audience in Streatley on 12 June with its clever mix of sound and visuals. Mark Kitto covers media bias, cultural appropriation, global power struggles and political calculation in a pacy and enjoyable three-act play. The viewer gets an insight into what went on during the 55-day siege of the foreign legations in Beijing that illuminates current world affairs. It is funny and thought-provoking at the same time. Unmissable. Nick Shanager, Goring Gap Festival Audience

For Chinese readers:

由中国通演绎的一段中国被列强入侵的史实，历史无法被忘却, Mark的表演令人深省难忘!

胡勤明

超级赞. Mark在Q&A分享了他在中国的经历和对中西关系的看法，诚实，公正，有见.

匿名

AND REVIEWS...

Libby Purves's on TheatreCat here

Cindy Yu in The Spectator here

Also:

Review of ‘Chinese Boxing’ for the Eastern Daily Press (EDP)

by  regular local theatre reviewer Carla Phillips. (It was lost in transit so not published. Reproduced here by kind permission)

CHINESE BOXING, Wells Maltings, 9 July 2021

A one-person show, if good, can be incredibly powerful. ‘Chinese Boxing’ written and acted by Mark Kitto, is a re-enactment of the Boxer Uprising, at the start of the last century: a historic event when all the Western embassies (plus the Japanese) were held under siege for 55 days until they were relieved by the arrival of troops led by the British. Starting as a lecture and lantern slide show set at least a century ago, this took place on Friday evening at Wells Maltings. The author, a long-time Norfolk resident who lives locally, has been touring the country with this performance.

It was entrancing. Diplomats (British and Chinese), soldiers, Chinese courtiers, sounds from the Dowager Empress. The distant and not so distant  sounds of gunfire – all brilliantly evoked. Greed, revenge, snobbery, prejudice, plus the knowledge of Chinese history and customs, all revealed in this portrayal of a momentous historical event which inevitably echoes today. We ignore history at our peril.

Narration, acting, sounds and strikingly attractive set and costumes were all faultless. It  seems amazing to be so fired up by this evocation of a historically remote event, but clear repercussions have trickled down to the present. This production is travelling all over the place. If possible, don’t miss it!

 -Carla Phillips

Review of Chinese Boxing, Headgate Theatre, Colchester

Essex County Standard, 27 March 2022 (Print edition only)

By Paul T. Davies 

History is so immediate these days, events are beamed live or within minutes throughout the world. However, to delve into history, to hear informed accounts of events from the past, gives us chance to reflect on similarities to the modern age, and the realisation that maybe lessons haven’t been learnt. I knew nothing about the Boxer Rebellion and the Siege of the International Legations in Peking in 1900, but Mark Kitto’s entertaining and highly informative self-penned and performed play made history come alive.

The strengths lie not just in the power of his story telling and the way he incorporates the audience, but the way that he subtly plays three different characters, all recounting the siege from different viewpoints, so we actually get a rounded version of events. First, Sir Claude MacDonald, ambassador to Peking in 1900, presents a slide show, (with authentic looking props), and introduces the historical and societal background. When he is “taken ill”, there is a delightful transition and the audience now hear the Chinese side of the conflict, in a beautifully controlled and performed middle section. At a critical moment in the conflict, we then meet the third character, a former Welsh guardsman who concludes the story, but “leaves out the politics.”

Enthralling and entertaining, the play works so well because it is built on Kitto’s lived experience of living in China for eighteen years working within the restrictions of The Communist Party, confirmed by an equally entertaining Q and A session. One sobering aspect of the evening was the parallels between then and the current European conflict, and China’s place in the world today. It's rare to see entertainment and history presented like this, and a thoroughly enjoyable evening was had by the audience.  

ABOUT MARK KITTO