Words: Elodie Marriott 

3 stars 

Known for their inventive object theatre, Yinalang Group present a heartwarming play about family and tradition, which they express through fruity, abstract storytelling. 

Centred around a tale about tangerines, the show explores Lunar New Year: how it is celebrated, seasonal activities, and foods that are special to the holiday. A large, mouldy orange is cast as grandfather, a Fanta bottle stands in for Aunt, and the sour, unripe fruit is their moody teenage cousin. The rest of the set is just as homespun, with the human mother made up of stacked cardboard boxes. 

The cast imbue their performance with a childlike curiosity. They get giggles from the crowd for the slapstick elements of the show and the humorous prospect of a tree growing inside a character’s stomach after swallowing a seed. There’s also an interesting opportunity for participation, as children are invited up onstage to paint their dreams using citrus juice. 

Where Has All the Fruit Gone? is a thoughtful depiction well-suited to children and bursting with creativity. 

Taiwan Season: Where Has All The Fruit Gone?
Downstairs at Assembly Roxy 
11:20 
22- 24 Aug