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Faye Yan- Is There Work On Mars 3*** - One4Review

Faye Yan- Is There Work On Mars 3***

| On 11, Aug 2025

Xue is a Chinese post graduate that has applied for a legal position on Mars. SpaceY is Nylon Tusk’s vision come reality of a near perfect population on colonised Mars. As Xue sits down for her entry interview in the testing lab, she is compelled to sit a fitness test while answering application form type questions. The questions begin as you would expect, gender, spoken language, sexuality etc and then a maths test, this is where it starts to go wrong for Xue. The scrutiny on Xue’s ethnic origin also intensifies and there is definitely a feeling of racial aggravation which appears acceptable on Mars.

Maths was never Xue’s strong point as she recalls her time at school in Beijing. Her school had very high standards and were constantly being compared to the ‘Western World’ and failure was not tolerated. When Xue didn’t hit the required mark, she is ostracised and brutally singled out for some unwanted attention. She picks herself up and reinvents herself as a post grad life and soul of the party which includes Beer pong and cheerleading but ultimately ends up with regrettable consequences.

Xue is then offered an alternative route to Mars and before she knows it, she is on her way but after a bit of thought, is this what she really wants? The show comes to a conclusion with Xue reflecting on her childhood, this is encapsulated by a well-known David Bowie track that blends in perfectly to provide a thought-provoking ending.

This show took a while to get going, but like the background beep test it speeds up as it goes along. Although the show is fictional, you get a sense the childhood back story was not. There is a strong sense of racial discrimination and lack of diversity that runs through the show and although it’s set in the future, again you get a sense the performer is drawing from previous experience. It’s a mind-bending concept with a bitter reality check that may or may not appeal to you.

***

Reviewed by Steve J

Zoo Playground, Playground 1

16.30 (1hr)

Until 24 Aug (not 13 or 20)

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