The Hungry Ghost Review: Sexy Spooky Romcom Stage Debut 2026

The Hungry Ghost review: this sexy, spookily funny romcom on stage is a seductively assured debut from writer Mei Leng Yew. With shapeshifting performances and smart, heartfelt writing, it explores second-generation family dynamics, the all-in nature of a new relationship, and the internal battles of a young woman trying to work out what she wants.

A Spooky Romcom with Heart

You must not make any big decisions during the traditional Chinese Ghost festival, our protagonist’s mum warns, or else the hungry ghosts will get you. But Girl (My Neighbour Totoro’s Mei Mac) already has her bags packed to move in with her secret girlfriend of three months, and nothing is as powerful as lesbians ready to U-Haul. Except perhaps a third-wheeling ghost with severe attachment issues, played giddily by Bridgerton’s Isabella Wei.

As the excitable ghost climbs into Girl’s body, everything is new and tasty to her (except porridge, she realises with tongue-scraping disgust). Ailin Conant’s sensuous direction has Wei following then dragging Mac, manipulating Girl’s body and voice and capacity for consumption until she is a bottomless pit of need.

Staging the Supernatural

Yimei Zhao’s sly set enables charming stage trickery as meals and shrines and escape-hatch windows appear. When food spills across the stage, it becomes a knees-on-the-floor, arms-scooping, mouth-open-wide affair – but still not enough to fill up the hungry ghost. Mac and Wei are gorgeous together, twisting across the stage as they vie for space.

Key Takeaways

• Shapeshifting performances from Mei Mac and Isabella Wei anchor the supernatural comedy.
• Smart, heartfelt writing balances humour with genuine emotion.
• Sensuous direction by Ailin Conant creates a physically dynamic staging.
• Clever set design by Yimei Zhao enables seamless magical transitions.

Performance Comparison

FAQ