Posts with the label Gig
Showing posts with label Gig. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gig. Show all posts
Friday 7 February 2020
Poet in da Corner, Royal Court | Review
Poet in da Corner
Royal Court
Reviewed on Thursday 6th February 2020 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★★
Modern storytelling is ever-changing but the blueprint often stays the same, with Shakespeare, Ibsen and Chekhov usually being the playwrights we are told to use as inspiration. In Poet in da Corner, Debris Stevenson challenges this and chooses to use Dizzee Rascal's debut album as the framework for her personal coming-of-age tale. Debris makes the importance of music clear from the get go: "Grime changed my life, more than my two first class degrees, it gave me permission". From here, we go on a loud, fast, energetic and spirited journey through Stevenson's life from a dyslexic teen trapped in a mormon household, to an independent, strong and self-aware woman.
This is an incredibly multi-layered show which is so much more than just a celebration of grime. Instead it's an impactful look at upbringing, freedom, self-expression and privilege. Stevenson freely studies and exerts herself, whilst, also investigating theatrical expression as a genre and form. There's breaking of the fourth wall, interesting use of props, thought-provoking lighting and exceptional movement. The energy is at peak levels throughout and the gig like atmosphere in the Royal Court is something to behold. Reminiscent at times of Arinzé Kene's Misty, this is the way theatre should be evolving to attract new audiences and tell stories in unique ways.
As well as writing the show, Stevenson's performance is exceptional; her passion for grime is instantly infectious and becomes universal almost as if her story is ours. I suppose in ways it is, as the universality of music is what makes it so special, but it's still masterful how Stevenson is able to unify a room of individuals so expertly, through her mile a mile performance.
Alongside Stevenson are Jammz (co-writer of the show), Stacy Abalogun and Kirubel Belay. The quad give amazingly agile performances both in vocal and physical terms. It's amazing to witness such fast action which flits between humour and intensity so seamlessly. If you want a celebration of grime and a true example of self-expression, this is the show for you.
The entire seventy minute show feels like a pan on the boil, continuously moving and flowing and engaging. Poet in da Corner is funny, truthful, inventive and really worth seeing.
Poet in da Corner runs at the Royal Court until 22 February and then tours the UK
Saturday 27 February 2016
Tori Kelly, O2 Academy Brixton | Review
So this blog post has really been four years in the making. After years of being a fan but never being able to go to a concert for various reasons, yesterday it finally happened, I got to witness the incredible Tori Kelly in action and I don't think I'll ever get over how amazing it was.
To set the scene, the crowd was already buzzing from Samm Henshaw's amazing opening act when Tori came onto the huge stage of the Brixton Academy, and that buzz stayed from the moment the queen stepped on stage to the moment we left the theatre. Tori's voice filled the whole place and her flawless technique and stage presence made me unable to take my eyes off of her. Everything seemed so natural, from the way Ms Kelly moved around the stage, to the way she used her pauses between songs to relish in the moment.
To set the scene, the crowd was already buzzing from Samm Henshaw's amazing opening act when Tori came onto the huge stage of the Brixton Academy, and that buzz stayed from the moment the queen stepped on stage to the moment we left the theatre. Tori's voice filled the whole place and her flawless technique and stage presence made me unable to take my eyes off of her. Everything seemed so natural, from the way Ms Kelly moved around the stage, to the way she used her pauses between songs to relish in the moment.
The set list for this concert was absolute perfection, with Tori belting nearly every song from her album, plus some of her older songs, such as the fan favourite 'Dear No One' and a brilliant cover medley, featuring PYT (with THAT riff of dreams included!) Tori hit every note with ease and her vocal ability and prowess was shown numerous times, with unblemished riffs, sultry low notes and etherial high notes.
I think its always been Tori's realness that has made people fall for her and that was truly the case last night. Tori somehow managed to make a huge venue feel intimate and managed to connect with everyone in the audience as if she were only singing to them. Not only that, but the whole concert felt like a party with friends, everyone there had a common love, admiration and support for Tori so for me at least, it really felt like we were just proud to be watching someone we love on stage. You could really see how happy Tori was on stage and that happiness really translated to the audience.
The thing which baffles me about this curly-haired beauty, is how she can be both angelic with her R&B vibes but also have such swagger that if she started rapping it would be completely normal and no one would bat an eyelash. This is just testament to how talented Tori is, and I hope she gets every success in the future, because that talent, kindness and humble personality, deserves incredible things (just like it deserved the Grammy that was robbed from it...! In my opinion at least!)
If you ever get the chance to see Tori in concert, please take it! I guarantee you'll leave feeling uplifted and in awe. One day it would be amazing if I could work with Tori and maybe sometime I will (it's on my bucket list to sing with her so fingers crossed!) But whether I get to or not, Tori has truly influenced my life and I'm so appreciative that she is there to be somebody for me to look up to and aspire to.
"Don't quit your daydream"
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