REVIEW: THE SOCIETY FOR NEW CUISINE at Omnibus Theatre 19 March – 5 April 2025

‘A Mesmerizing Fusion of Technology and Emotion’ ★★★★ ½

It’s a show like no other. The mysterious title offers little hint of what to expect—until you’re struck by the intricate web of electronic lines and scattered machines messily yet beautifully arranged on the traverse stage. Throughout the performance, these tangled wires, computers, speakers, radios, and microphones become more than just props; they take on a life of their own, shaping the atmosphere and storytelling in this solo show.

Chris Fung, the sole performer, seamlessly embodies multiple roles—his mother, friends, and wife—using an array of technological devices. This interplay between performer and tech is not just a theatrical gimmick but a deeper reflection of perception and memory. Are these characters truly real, or are they the main character’s fragmented interpretations of them? As Chris converses with these figures in his mind, the audience is drawn into a profound emotional journey exploring identity, expectations, love, and loss.

Performance-wise, Fung exudes an irresistible charisma, skilfully commanding the stage and shifting its energy with rhythmic precision. The staging, directed by Rupert Hands, is nothing short of masterful—turning cold, impersonal technology into vessels of human longing. What’s truly mesmerizing is how the show transforms these devices into emotional conduits; at first, you might marvel at the cleverness of the tech-driven performance, but soon, you find yourself believing that the silver MacBook at the centre of the stage is his Chinese mother, a symbol of the societal expectations that weigh on him. The irony is striking—these technological tools, often seen as isolating, become the very instruments that expose the character’s internal turmoil.

The writer and performer describes the show as an exploration of East Asian masculinity and the devastation of heartbreak. However, what resonated most for me was the poetic chaos of our inner struggles—the desperate, tangled attempt to make sense of the world and our place within it. The show is on at the Omnibus Theatre until the 5th of April, so don’t miss it!

THE SOCIETY FOR NEW CUISINE at Omnibus Theatre 19 March – 5 April 2025

Presented by Fun Guy Productions

BOX OFFICE https://www.omnibus-clapham.org/the-society-for-new-cuisine/ 

Photos by @bykenny.k - Kenny Kung

Writer and Performer @chrisbfung - Chris Fung

Dir. @ruperthands

Set and Costume: @yimeidesign

Sound: @jamieludesigns

Lights: @raj_ld

Assistant Dir.: @eilidh_evs

Stage Management: Alexandra Kataigida

 @omnibustheatre

@nordenfarm

@funguytheatre