Sam Wu Is NOT Afraid of Ghosts

This new production (and first ever stage adaptation of Katie and Kevin Tsang's best-selling book) was indeed also warm and welcoming, with colours just as bright as the fun-filled foyer you enter through. Polka’s previous shows have set expectations rather high on all accounts, and there is cause for argument that this one might not quite meet them.

At its best, it is a delightful display of friendship, life lessons, and self belief. During the slower moments though, it could be described as a little lagging or bland. Now it is important to note that the website states there will be ‘flashing lights, Ioud noises, the use of haze, and short blackouts’ which I should imagine are to contribute to the air of tension and strife throughout the hour’s show. 

But as this was a relaxed performance, those elements were massively toned down (if not completely removed). This makes sense for the intended audience and their possible access requirements and, as a neurodivergent person myself, I regularly rely on these accommodations to be able to visit the theatre safely. It should not, however, detract from the overall experience or change the show so drastically that our visit is totally different to those who attended the day before; having spoken to previous audience members and reading other’s accounts (the privilege of visiting further into the run) it seems this is exactly what's happened.