Review: RepresentAsian (Lyric Theatre)
Review by Sam Waite
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In 2025, Ben Armstrong’s RepresentAsian initiative made its West End debut at the Lyric Theatre, where the home of Hadestown lent its stage to an evening of talent from across the Asian diaspora. Held as a fundraiser to support The Boury Academy’s commitment to supporting the training and development of performers from across those same communities, the event made a grand return to the same venue, hosted again by UK television icon Nina Wadia.
The company of ten performers included a special appearance by a recently-minted Olivier winner, James Hameed, with songs pulled from both classic and recent musicals. Between these numbers, Wadia spoke on the importance of the event, the scholarship being funded, and of representation across the arts, including highlighting the wonderful onstage musicians. Founder Ben Armstrong also made an appearance, giving his own impassioned speech about the origins of the initiative and the importance of equitable opportunities in the arts.
Vocally, the company were strong across the board, from relative newcomers like Shivaane Subash and Charlie Moscrop to more established names, among them Hiba Elchikhe and Zheng Xi Yong. After taking part in a number from Tick, Tick… Boom! to open the evening, Subash made a strong case for herself as a future Jenna with a stellar “What Baking Can Do,” while Elchike gave West End audience a preview of an upcoming transfer’s music with a vibrant, evocative performance of “My Days” from The Notebook to close act one.
The challenge here is to highlight what was so wonderful about this event, and about the talent on display, without simply recounting the evening beat for beat. Some of the most memorable moments came where Asian creatives were also represented in the songs themselves, with Nadim Naaman following a Godspell number from act one with a song from his musical Rumi, as well as being invited before his first performance to discuss his journey to writing for the stage. Later, Roshani Abbey delivered “In Between Two Worlds” from Māyā, another stirring example of the strength and importance of contemporary writing coming from the same underrepresented communities as those bringing it to life onstage.
A small but mighty band of four, led by musical director Taekkeun Sim on keys, showed great adaptability and undeniable range as they moved between such a range of songs. With Dhiraj Kainth on guitar, Daehyun Lee playing the drums, and Jihea Oh on bass, the 24 songs all sounded wonderful and composers from Schwartz to Sondheim, Larsson to Menken were well served by these talented musicians. With sound designer Kelsh B-D keeping everything in balance, and some atmospheric shifts in Ben Davies’ lighting to increase intimacy or grandeur as needed, the show packed a consistent punch, matching its cast’s undeniable charms.
One of last year’s undebatable highlights, a Rogers, Hammerstein and Sondheim mashup reflecting the insidious power and oft-inherited nature of racism both outward and systemic, had an equivalent here. The aforementioned themes were so perfectly encapsulated by this number that it would be near enough impossible to replicate, and so the wisest choice was made – to prepare a new medley with a wholly different concept. James Hameed, Paddington’s Olivier-winning and Broadway-bound star, made a guest appearance fresh off his stateside news to deliver a mix of Aladdin’s “Proud of Your Boy” and Paddington’s own “The Explorer and The Bear,” giving delicate, deeply affecting attention to family, connection, and community.
RepresentAsian is a much-needed and fully deserving initiative, but also a winning and endlessly enjoyable evening I hope to see make further stops in the West End. After my second year witnessing the power that comes with a community often put aside or pigeonholed come together to celebrate what more they can offer, paraphrasing the song chosen for the full-cast closing number feels the only way to end this review: song after song, story after story, I can’t help falling in love with RepresentAsian’s mission, its artists, and above all its heart.
RepresentAsian: An Evening of Asian Talent held its second West End performance at the Lyric Theatre on November 9th 2026
To learn more about the event, visit RepresentAsian’s Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/representasianldn/
Photos by Danny Kaan