REVIEW: Meaning - An Idea That Calls for More Thorough Examination

©️Meaning Production

Meaning sets out to ask the big questions: who truly holds power in the theatre, and what is theatre meant for anyway? This is framed through a play-within-a-play structure, where a contemporary theatre performance becomes the stage for a debate among different voices - playwright, director, producer, critic, audience member, stage manager, and more. The circle of chairs at the start becomes both a literal and symbolic platform, as each character brings their own perspective to the discussion.

The premise is ambitious, and at its heart lies a genuine curiosity about theatre-making itself. There are moments when the staging captures attention: for instance, the slow-motion fight near the end brings a much-needed burst of drama. The concept of placing different professional and personal viewpoints on stage also reflects a strong awareness of the complex ecosystem behind every production.

However, the piece often struggles to carry this ambition through. The play’s structure leans heavily on long monologues, where characters deliver their views in turn. This creates repetition and eventually softens the energy. Rather than a dynamic debate where ideas clash and evolve, it becomes more of a sequence of statements - earnest, but not always dramatically engaging.

The “play within the play” also feels underdeveloped: the contemporary theatre actress does not accumulate new tension through each fragment of performance. Instead, it risks losing the audience’s attention without offering fresh insight or theatrical texture.

As it stands, the production feels more like a workshop of ideas than a finished play. Yet, the work’s concept holds promise. With sharper editing, stronger contrasts between voices, and more interplay between perspectives, Meaning could evolve into a compelling piece that not only asks but embodies that very question: what theatre means to each of us.

★★1/2

For more information, please visit: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/meaning

Credits

Cast: Yitong Fu, Gloria Chenying Gu, Le Cai, Linrui Jiao, Chen Chen, Magdalena Weitgasser, Lauren Sutton, Yi Tang, Kejie Wang, Rebecca Tozzoli Clozza, Lishuang Yang, Lijia Huang

Founder & Head Producer & Playwright & Acting Coach: Yitong Fu
Producer: Gloria Chenying Gu
Executive Producer: Xinyue Zhao
Fundraising: Matilda Shuyu Liu, Gloria Chenying Gu
Marketing & PR Manager: Muqing Li
Marketing and PR Assistant: Linqi Hou, Zhongyi Sun
Prop Manager: Ruiqi Zhang
Photographer (Edinburgh): Shengming Zhang

Director: Cameron Ablimit
Assistant Director & Dramaturgy: Ling Lin
Stage Direction: Ke Zheng
Assistant Playwright: Magdalena Weitgasser, Linrui Jiao
Music Composer: Yuanlin Yang
Movement Director: Jacob Zang
Artistic Director: Weiyu Li
Lighting Designer: Shawn Shaoheng Lu
Lighting Assistant: Ruotong Wu
Sound Designer: Xiaoya Zhao
Assistant Sound Designer: Guo Weiyi
Poster Designer: Cecilia Chuan Jiang, Yin Deng