REVIEW: Invisible Space - A Delicate and Immersive Reimagining of Myth

©️Poster designed by Peijia Luo

Inspired by the enduring Chinese legend of Bai Suzhen and Xu Xian, Invisible Space reimagines what might happen after the end of the familiar tale. But instead of offering a traditional retelling, Awful Shoes Collective invites the audience into an intimate ritual of listening and presence, using silent disco technology to build a sound-led, immersive experience.

Equipped with wireless headphones, audience members are gently guided into a world shaped by voice, movement, and minimal but effective design. One of the most striking visual elements is the use of lighting to mimic the texture and movement of water. Even in a Fringe venue with limited space and equipment, the creative team successfully evokes the rippling surface of West Lake, conjuring a sense of place that feels fluid and reflective.

The performance stands out for its ambition in sound design. The layered audio, from internal monologues to ambient cues, allows Bai Suzhen’s emotional world to unfold in a way that feels close and immediate. The reinterpretation of the legend as a contemporary story of grief, endurance, and transformation opens up new narrative possibilities. There’s a quiet excitement in imagining what lies beyond Xu Xian’s death, and Invisible Space gestures toward themes of rebirth and solitude, though it leaves much open to interpretation.

The cast delivers natural, grounded performances, with particular strength in the spoken delivery. Dialogue flows smoothly, and even within the stylised environment, the emotional core feels honest and accessible.

That said, the production is occasionally impacted by technical inconsistency. At times, the audio signal in the headphones drops or wavers, briefly pulling the audience out of the otherwise immersive experience. While understandable in a festival setting, moments like these do break the flow of connection the show otherwise builds with care. With more stable tech support, the production could achieve an even more enveloping effect.

Still, Invisible Space remains a compelling example of how mythology can be reactivated through new media and thoughtful staging. Awful Shoes Collective manages to turn a centuries-old tale into something personal and present, not by retelling it in full, but by inviting the audience to listen, imagine, and feel alongside a character long overshadowed.

★★★1/2

This show is currently performing at Just The Tonic @The Caves, Edinburgh Fringe. For more information, please visit: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/invisible-space

Credits

Cast: Jiayi Li
Director: Hengquan Zhang
Assistant Director: Yumeng Zhang
Dramaturge: Xiaoyao Zhang
Producers: Peijia Luo, Peijia Hu
Assistant Producer: Shiqi Cao
Lighting Designer: Sanli Lin Wang
Set Designer: Peijia Luo
Sound Designer: Shiqi Cao
Costume Designer: Shumai Zhang
Stage Manager: Weiman (Brooke) Xu
Photographer: Ningyi Zhang