The Hungry Ghost
$31.03
- Paperback
88 pages
- Release Date
8 October 2026
Summary
“I feel like a newborn out in the world for the first time.”
Tonight’s the night. She’s moving into a new house with her (secret) girlfriend. And she’s not going to listen to her mum’s warnings – what does it matter if it’s the first night of the traditional Chinese ghost month? Parents will say anything to keep you at home.
Caught between the expectations of her Chinese parents and her white girlfriend, she unwittingly invites a hungry ghost into her life. Soon she’s…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781839046452 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 1839046457 |
| Author: | Mei Leng Yew |
| Publisher: | Nick Hern Books |
| Imprint: | Nick Hern Books |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Number of Pages: | 88 |
| Release Date: | 8 October 2026 |
| Weight: | 105g |
| Dimensions: | 6mm x 129mm x 198mm |
| Series: | NHB Modern Plays |
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Critics Review
‘Dark, sexy and comic… Mei Leng Yew’s juicily spooky romcom is a seductively assured debut’
* Guardian *‘A confident and wonderfully original piece of writing… a script that is nuanced, layered and, for a play steeped in death and the afterlife, frequently very funny… the comedy is dark, the laughs arrive with a shiver attached and there is real substance lurking beneath them’
* WhatsOnStage *‘Warm, hilariously funny and heartfelt… uses the folklore brilliantly, as a way to talk about control over our own lives and bodies, and the consequences of being denied that control or choice… it handles its core emotional story beautifully, finishing with a moving and heartfelt ending… a play that deserves a huge audience. You will have a great time, laugh your butt off and then leave a little bit teary’
* Theatre & Tonic *‘A vastly watchable, funny, and thought-provoking play’
* Broadway World *‘Gloriously ghoulish… a tantalising premise that promises much and manages to deliver on its potential spectacularly. Through a combination of razor-sharp writing, hilarious set pieces, and electric performances, The Hungry Ghost is a terrifying, yet tender treat the entire way through’
* Theatre Weekly *‘Everything about The Hungry Ghost feels exciting. It’s sexy, it’s funny, it’s heartwarming, and, most importantly, it feels deeply original… a delightful, cross-genre story of discovery that’s the perfect show for those who want more treats than tricks in their rom-coms’
* All That Dazzles *‘Fascinating and original… a true example of why to go to the theatre’
* Voice Magazine *‘This whizzing, wildly funny supernatural horror is a theatrical feast… a terrific and hearty debut… an utter thrill to watch’
* Liam O’Dell *‘Blending romance with full-blown terror… in Leng Yew’s hands, the grotesque is often very funny too… this play establishes Leng Yew as a very original and perceptive writer. One to watch’
* London Theatre *Mei Leng Yew
Mei Leng Yew is a British writer of Malaysian-Chinese heritage.
Her work for the stage includes The Hungry Ghost (Bush Theatre, London, 2026). She was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Playwriting in 2025 for her play Down Side Up.
She is an alumnus of the Soho Theatre Writers’ Lab, the Royal Court Intro to Playwriting Group and New Earth Theatre’s Writers Plus Academy. She is also a trustee of MAMA Youth Project, a charity that empowers diverse young people to work in film and TV.
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