We sent our reviewer James to watch Legendary

Beneath the imposing grandiosity of Edinburgh’s McEwan Hall, Cheeyang Ng creates a homely oasis of myth and story and song, which somehow manages to be both profoundly intimate and encompass the whole world at the same time in their exceptional new musical, Legendary.

Interweaving personal narratives of family, finding themselves, coming out, and searching for meaning again with ancient myths taught to them by a favourite aunt, who had a few mysteries of her own, Ng invites you into a world of sun gods and sea dragons and a non-binary person who travelled the Earth in search of home. Along the way you will discover what you might say to your children or even your inner child, become part of the great ocean, and sing the names of ancient heroes – who sometimes may not have been quite as heroic as they seemed.

I love storytelling. And I love people’s personal stories. But there is a particular art to combining myth and individual history which is not always easy to pull off. Ng manages this with seemingly effortless grace whilst also incorporating original songs and elements of ritual which carry the audience along, to the accompaniment of a great live piano and Ng’s hauntingly beautiful voice, through turbulent, but ultimately uplifting waters.

In addition to being a lovely story, beautifully told with an important central message of hope, the work of the piece is also a vital part of reclaiming queer heritage. LGBTQIA+ folk grow up with the same myths and legends as everyone else from whatever culture that might be, but often, for whatever reason, be it through intentional erasure or merely oversight, we do not see ourselves in this heritage. The power of reclaiming these narratives, finding ourselves once again in our history and culture, connecting who we are now, to who we have always been, cannot be underestimated. Cheeyang Ng does this here in extremely moving fashion. The number of happy tears being shed by the audience as we left our little haven under the hall was definite proof of that.

Throw on your hero’s mantel this Fringe and start a quest to find out why Cheeyang Ng is truly Legendary.

Rating: ****’ 4.5 stars

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