About the Show

A stolen statue sparks a battle over history, culture, and ghosts in this provocative new play.

In Scenes from a Repatriation, a 1,000-year-old statue of the Bodhisattva Guan Yin becomes the center of a heated battle between The British Museum and the Chinese government over its stolen past. As political figures maneuver and ghosts stir, the statue’s journey from China to Britain reveals the lingering wounds of empires and the contested ownership of cultural heritage. Joel Tan’s shape-shifting play, directed by emma + pj, weaves history, spirituality, and power into a provocative exploration of who truly owns the past.

Critic Reviews (6)

"Tan has written a play that feels at once sweeping in scope and completely nuanced"
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"For all its knottiness, though, this is an ambitious piece, unusual and challenging. It is exactly the kind of play you want the Royal Court to present in this space."
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"The messy form and the ambitious scope are things to admire. It just needs a lot more chipping and sculpting to find its final form."
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“This is innovative theatre, shining with intelligence, which brings richness to our cultural tussle with the problem of ancient statues and their rightful place in the world.”
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"Scenes from a Repatriation is an impressive and, at times, uncomfortable investigation into the complex world of cultural artefacts and their repatriation."
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"Tan guides you tenderly on a journey much like that of the statue itself. It is a journey you will be glad you took."
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Cast and creative team