The Society For New Cuisine
Rating: ★★★★
Venue: Omnibus Theatre, London
Cast: Chris Fung 

The Substance meets Woman in Black in this debut play from East-Asian writer and performer Chris Fung and directed by Rupert Hands. A deliciously twisted Buddhist inspired folk fable about power, masculinity and heartbreak which took Edinburgh Fringe by storm last summer, now making its much anticipated London debut.  What would you give for a taste of new understanding?

The Society For New Cuisine is an unsettling, surreal journey through one man's unraveling psyche, filled with intense performances and striking moments of shock and intrigue.

The Society For New Cuisine is a captivating one-man show that follows a male protagonist on his journey through adulthood, charting his emotional and psychological decline. The narrative is tightly woven, with the story slowly unravelling as his mental state deteriorates, leading the audience through a labyrinth of complex emotions and experiences.

The protagonist, the sole actor and narrator, Chris Fung, holds the audience's attention with remarkable skill. His performance is immersive, drawing everyone in with a presence that feels almost magnetic. As he unfolds his life’s journey, we feel as if we are watching him but also being watched by him, a delicate dynamic that heightens the intensity of the experience. His acting is compelling, drawing you in.

While the protagonist is the central figure, there are other characters present in the narrative, though they remain on the periphery. The actor skilfully portrays multiple roles, often using a microphone to shift his voice and create different personas. This technique adds an interesting layer to the performance, though there are moments when the transitions between characters could have been more seamlessly synchronised.

The set design initially feels sparse, consisting of little more than three standing lights and three chairs. However, the actor uses these minimal elements to powerful effect, crafting a world that blurs the boundaries of time and space. The simplicity of the set works in tandem with the storytelling, creating an atmosphere that is both disorienting and engrossing. That said, some of the props seem underutilised, leaving the audience to wonder if the full potential of the set was reached.

This is a startling, thought-provoking show. The ending is both impactful and shocking, leaving the audience in a state of unease. Moments of clarity are frequently interrupted by flashes of surreal horror and dark comedy, amplified by crescendos of dissonant sound. The experience leaves you unsettled, twisted in sympathy with the protagonist’s unraveling mind. You walk away from the performance with a sense of disquiet, laden with lingering questions and reflections—definitely not in the same emotional state you entered with.

You can book tickets to see The Society For New Cuisine, here.

Review by Alex 

**photo credit: Kenny Kung**