REVIEW: Legendary

Star rating: ★★★★★

Cheeyang Ng has created a show that makes you feel like you truly belong; I would compare it to the feeling of a group therapy session. The venue was small and intimate, creating a sense of togetherness with the other audience members, allowing us to block out the outside world and just focus on the show, accepting ourselves and everyone else for who they are.

Traditional Chinese mythology is retold through a queer and immigrant perspective, particularly exploring the idea of growing up surrounded by stories and traditions without ever quite seeing yourself represented within them.

Audience participation is required as part of the show, and it is definitely one of the strongest elements of the performance. The audience sings as instructed, effectively becoming a choir and connecting everyone in the room even further. Everything Cheeyang Ng has written and every action they perform feels deeply tied to the narrative in a way that feels relatable and recognisable.

There was so much emotion put into the storytelling, and their phenomenal vocals brought goosebumps to the entire room. There wasn’t a single dry eye in the venue as Cheeyang Ng deeply moved the audience, a true gift. They are an incredibly charismatic performer with a warmth that makes a solo show feel surprisingly intimate and communal.

Ultimately, the show manages to be deeply personal while remaining universal—you don’t need to share Ng’s background to recognise that feeling of trying to understand where you fit within inherited stories and expectations. Funny, moving, uplifting, and completely original.

Legendary is playing until 31st August as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival at Friesian at Underbelly, Bristo Square.