A multi-generational story of cultural control and desperate desire for freedom, underlines the crushing realism of how cultural pasts influence modernity in the one woman show Voices of a Siren. This production revolves around three generations from one family, and comments on the mixture of happiness but also blunt cruelty that exists throughout in a women’s life in China. Told from the perspective of a single actor, the spiriting Soraya Chau, tells the story of all three women, detailing how there are many moments in the young women’s lives that are indeed reasons to be positive about the future. They had loving families and a sense of joy in the world around them. However, this is not a permanent situation. The topic of the traditional feet binding of young girls in China was a regular theme that arose during the play. The bound feet and the lotus shoes they were intended to fit into, was a representation of not only masculine dominance of the women’s lives but also the painful recognition of resigned female submission was most they would expect for their future. As a physical theatre show rather than a dance performance, much was woven between spoken story and enhanced story telling through physical form. The spoken story itself was compounded by Soraya’s representation of the bone breaking and binding process of the children’s feet. Harrowing to say the very least. There is a juxtaposition though in the show. Soraya’s performance is enchanting with her physical storytelling skills and her clear voice, balancing each other magnificently. Yet the story was full of women who had missed opportunities and lives cheated from happiness. Beautiful and tormenting. This only highlights the truly excellent script she had to work with, written by award winning playwright Ada Chan. The three women were challenged immeasurably through their lives but in the end were able to break through to a sense of autonomy. A mention must be made for both the direction by Brenda Chan and the live score by musician Maggie Tan. Their influence on the play is notable and greatly enhanced the entire atmosphere of the performance.