Royal Court Theatre presents

Scenes from a Repatriation

By Joel Tan

Scenes from a Repatriation Top / Details / The Company
Fri 25 Apr - Sat 24 May Book Now

‘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.  

A Royal Court Theatre commission.  

Post-show Talk Tues 6 May

A conversation with writer Joel Tan. This event is free with a ticket to that evening’s performance.

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'Vast and scorchingly profound'

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'One of the most daring playwrights working today'

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Jerwood Theatre Upstairs

Monday – Friday: 3pm and 7.45pm

Saturdays: 2pm and 6.45pm

Age recommendation: 14+

Running time: 2 hours 30 mins, including a 15 minute interval

This show contains haze, smoke & incense, Flashing lights, loud noises.

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Access Performances

Babes in Arms Performance: Tues 6 May, 3pm

Age UK & Captioned Performance: Tues 13 May, 3pm

Captioned Performance: Tues 13 May, 7:45pm

Chilled Performance: Sat 24 May, 2pm

Access information

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- Concessions Captioned Show all

Tue 6 May 3.00pm

These performances are intended for adults with babies under 12 months old. For More information, see the Access page on our website.

Tue 6 May 7.45pm

Post-Show Talk

Wed 7 May 7.45pm

Thu 8 May 7.45pm

Fri 9 May 7.45pm

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Sat 10 May 2.00pm

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Sat 10 May 6.45pm

Mon 12 May 7.45pm

Tue 13 May 3.00pm

These performances are in partnership with Age UK, promoting access to theatre for older people. For more information, contact our Box Office Team. This performance will also be Captioned.

Tue 13 May 7.45pm

This performance will be Captioned with a Familiarisation Tour at 7:15pm. For more information, see the Access page on our website.

Wed 14 May 7.45pm

Thu 15 May 7.45pm

Fri 16 May 7.45pm

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Sat 17 May 2.00pm

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Sat 17 May 6.45pm

Mon 19 May 7.45pm

Tue 20 May 7.45pm

Wed 21 May 7.45pm

Thu 22 May 3.00pm

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Thu 22 May 7.45pm

Fri 23 May 7.45pm

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Sat 24 May 2.00pm

This performance will br Chilled with a Familiarisation Tour at 1:30pm. For more information, see the Access page on our website.

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Sat 24 May 6.45pm