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Show: Tales of the Turntable
Society: London (professional shows)
Venue: Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, London
Credits: By Carrie–Anne Ingrouille. Performed by ZooNation Youth Company
Type: Sardines
Author: Frank Kaye
Performance Date: 15/08/2019
Tales of the Turntable
Frank Kaye | 16 Aug 2019 22:05pm
Photos: Takis Zontiros
Tales of the Turntable is a fantastic musical running at the Queen Elizabeth Hall until 26 August. It is performed by the ZooNation Youth Company and whilst it is aimed at the younger end of the audience spectrum, this near seventy-year-old reviewer had a great time and recommends it to anyone who is up for a good night out.
This is a big show on a big stage. It is lit at probably a dozen levels with spectacular changes of scene as the stage goes dark between the different levels of musical history arrayed in a musical with twelve scenes. The two key protagonists, Eric and his grandfather, sit in their own tight little areas downstage left and right. They come together to initiate each new scene which provides a nice framework to a full-on evening of exposure to swing, disco, hip-hop, house, funk, soul, and rap.
There is a cast of sixteen twelve to seventeen-year olds who showcase the flawless talent of the ZooNation company. They show off the range of dance skills with both individual and ensemble dancing. All the dancers are exceptional but the stars of the evening who stir the audience to applause every time they perform a solo are Basit Ayanwusi and William Pascua. Portia Oti also carves out a space for herself as a friend of Eric.
No doubt the subtlety of the different dance styles and music is the basis of much of the enjoyment of the younger portion of the audience. That said, there is an overall ensemble feel to the evening which works on many levels. Eric gets bullied in the early part of the show and his backpack bouncing around the stage provides a nice metaphor for his status amongst his peers. As the show progresses Eric spends more time at his turntable with the rest of the company acting out their own feelings.
The excellent music is mostly original and written by DJ Walde. The director and choreographer is Carrie-Anne Ingrouilee who brings together this young company in a rewarding and stimulating occasion.
There is little to criticise as the show “does what it says on the tin”. My wife who accompanied me says that she would have preferred the speech to be real rather than recorded but I felt it worked especially as William Pascua did lots of mime as he was “speaking”.
This show will delight anyone who enjoys hip-hop music and watching the best of Britain’s dance talent perform on one of Britain’s most exciting stages.
- : admin
- : 15/08/2019