Scenes from a Repatriation
‘All of human history? It’s basically people taking things from each other’
A 1000-year-old statue of the Boddhisattva Guan Yin lives in The British Museum.
When it emerges that the statue was stolen from its original home, the museum attempts to deflect both the public response and controversial repatriation claims from the Chinese government.
As statesmen scheme and grease their palms, beneath the statue witches dance, a cleaner prays, and spirits weep. Guan Yin’s gaze falls over the broken shards of human life from empires old and new.
Joel Tan’s shape-shifting play unfolds the statue’s journey from China to Britain and back again, stirring up centuries of ghosts. Directed by experimental theatre-makers emma + pj (Ghosts of the Near Future, Barbican), Scenes from a Repatriation questions who can claim cultural artefacts – and why.
SCENES FROM A REPATRIATION
Design: Guy J Sanders
BOOK TICKETS FOR THE WORLD PREMIERE AT THE ROYAL COURT THEATRE
PERFORMANCES FROM 25 APRIL — 24 MAY 2025
THE PUBLISHED PLAY TEXT IS NOW AVAILABLE FROM NICK HERN BOOKS
‘All of human history? It’s basically people taking things from each other.’
A 1000-year-old statue of the Bodhisattva Guanyin lives in The British Museum.
When it emerges that the statue was stolen from its original home, the museum attempts to deflect both the public response and controversial repatriation claims from the Chinese government.
As statesmen scheme and grease their palms, beneath the statue witches dance, a cleaner prays, and spirits weep. Guanyin’s gaze falls over the broken shards of human life from empires old and new.
Joel Tan’s shape-shifting play unfolds the statue’s journey from China to Britain and back again, stirring up centuries of ghosts. Directed by emma + pj, Scenes from a Repatriation questions who can claim cultural artefacts – and why.
A Royal Court Theatre commission.
Photography: Alex Brenner
CREATIVE TEAMWritten by Joel TanDirection by emma + pjSet and Costume Design by TK HaySound Design by Patch MiddletonLighting Design by Alex FernandesVideo Design by Tyler ForwardAssistant Set Design by Yijing ChenMovement Direction by Ken NakajimaCasting by Jatinder CheraDialect and Language Coaching by Jenru WangCostume Supervision by Ellen Rey de CastroLion Dance Coaching by The London Lion DanceStage Management by Aime NeemeDeputy Stage Management by Daze CorderProducing for the Royal Court by Hannah LyallProduction Management for the Royal Court by Zara DrohanCompany Management for the Royal Court by Mica TaylorPERFORMANCE HISTORY25th April - 24th May 2025 // Royal Court Theatre, London, UK
