Mei Leng Yew's debut play "The Hungry Ghost" opens at Bush Theatre in London as a romantic comedy that weaves humour with horror. The production follows a young woman named Girl, played by Mei Mac, who ignores her mother's warning against making major life decisions during the traditional Chinese Ghost Festival.
Girl plans to move in with her girlfriend of three months, defying the superstition that hungry ghosts will intervene if big changes occur during the festival period. A mischievous ghost character, portrayed by Isabella Wei from Bridgerton, complicates matters with what the Guardian describes as "severe attachment issues."
The Guardian's reviewer praises Yew's "smart, heartfelt writing" and notes the cast delivers "shapeshifting performances" that balance comedy and darker elements. The play explores second-generation family dynamics, the intensity of new relationships, and one woman's internal struggle to determine what she wants.
Yew's work sits at the intersection of romance and supernatural elements, anchored by specific cultural traditions. The reviewer describes it as a "seductively assured debut" and a "juicily spooky romcom" that examines the clash between parental caution rooted in tradition and a young adult's readiness to commit to her own choices.