Happy Chinese New Year: The Year of the Horse

The Year of the Horse was welcomed in with a thoroughly entertaining variety show at the New Wolsey Theatre, in Suffolk on Saturday night, 1st of Feb 2014.

The Chinese New Year Show, is the 11th annual production by Suffolk Chinese Family Welfare Association (SCFWA) with the assistance of the theatre technical staff, was a sell out performance.

The audience enjoyed a variety of traditional Chinese dances by Mel Zhao's Lux Dance Group, Shaoling Kung Fu Performing Team from London, Zahara Belly Dance Troupe and a sizzling Bachata showcase by the UK Amateur Champions Y L Hwang and E K Richardson, and Bunny Tan whose audition on the Voice was broadcast on the same night on BBC 1.

The show finale was a gravity defying Aerial Silks performance by Hazel Lam. The show was hosted by Peter Boland with 7 little helpers, the youngest, Leon Skeet, aged only 2.

Ipswich Mayor Cllr Hamil Clarke was given a back stage tour by the Chairman of the Chinese Association Olivia Boland, and happily posed for photos with many performers. Sir Edward Greenwell, the High Sheriff of Suffolk, Tim Passmore, the Police and Crime Commissioner, Douglus Paxton, the Chief Constable, and Council Chairman Guy MacGregor were some of the VIPs who attended the show to wish the Chinese Community here in Suffolk a very prosperous and happy Year of the Horse.

OBV’s Simon Woolley said:

Both Olivia and her son Peter Boland continue to be a great ambassadors for the Chinese/British community, bringing all communities together to engage, celebrate and ensure regions such as Suffolk remain culturally dynamic”

Happy Chinese New Year

OBV Staff Reporter