I got myself down to the Lilian Baylis studio yesterday to speak to Botis Seva, another man in Hip-Hop theatre who is trying to make a change. It was a pleasure to meet him and have a chat about his company Far From the Norm and what is to be expected in his upcoming Wild Card performance at the Lilian Baylis studio next week. It looks like we can expect the unexpected and to get prepared to actively participate. It's Urban Immersive Theatre season for me- I'm liking it! Seriously looking forward to seeing this one, and if you haven't got your ticket, check back for returns, because he's so good, he's SOLD OUT!
I don't really know where to start with this post. I'm still so overwhelmingly stuffed full of flashbacks, reflections, sights and smells, that I'm struggling to assimilate a neat little packaged blog post that will do this production justice. As always...I will try my best. After my visit to see the set the weekend before opening, I had an idea of what was to come, but I wasn't prepared for the bravery and guts that came with the experience we had that evening.
Pre-show props
Equipped with two of my very good friends in the audience, we waited outside the warehouse before the start, and were soon met with some 'youfs' shall we say; confident, cocky and dishing out papers as a pre-show present for us all in the queue. Each paper had something different written on it; 'Keeper', 'Breeder', 'Fighter' or 'Undecided' at the top, and the DEN rules underneath. So we knew there was going to be some participating, some splitting up maybe? Reminiscent of 'Punchdrunk' I thought I would get ready to listen a little harder, as I know that you get out what you put in with this kind of show. After being ushered into a dark waiting area, a sharp spoken word opening by Rizza (Sam Rix) set the tone for where we were about to enter, a playground perhaps? What kind of playground would be worth seeing? The suspense was reeling in the air. The curtain was raised and a large cast scattered in a dream like tableau throughout the immaculate cotch that Rufio and the Lost Boys could have only dreamed of building in 1991's Hook movie. A caravan, wooden huts, a cage, scaffolding even a chill out area (which we were later familiarised with on our guided tour). An endless childhood dream-den; earthy, dusty and 'beach estate' chic is what we were going to spend the next three hours in. After an introduction to various key characters in the Den, a Fast and Furious car entry and a heroic leap from a first floor, we got the idea. These kids were tough, and clever, and they had made a life for themselves outside of zone one, in the year 2101 where childhood is banned outside of central London, and if you survive in zone one, you live a life that is so restricted, that you may as well not live at all. It is a place where youth is welcomed, adults are a no-no and when you reach your 18th Birthday, you must passover. Be gone. Commit to death. That brings us to the current state of the Den. After being given a chance to walk around freely we were ushered into a cage, as Den members told us to 'zip, Freshie, zip' (Den language for 'move new kid move'). A brilliantly choreographed battle took place as we looked on from the cage, and the 'fighters' showed us what they were made of. I took note of characters 'Brutus'(Giles Maythan) and 'George' (Elinor Machen-Fortune) as their tough guy and girl characters stood out.
George, Abrun and the audience in the courtyard
In a world where we are being surprised and shocked less and less, moments arose where surprise was in fact the key element. A girl whom we thought was a 'freshie member' with us, was directly addressed to come forward. We learned that she (Liz-Beth played by Elizabeth Mary Williams) was desperate to escape the miserable existence of the 'real world' and was eager to join this community where she could be a mother and breed with her partner. Upon being sniffed out as a fraud by George, she reveals that after deceiving Den Master Abrun (Lewis Griffin) that she was 15, she was in fact 18. You can only guess what happened to her, and it was a gunshot that was used on this occasion. We learned then that the Den was BRUTAL. After being split into our various groups, different characters toured us around the courtyard and the warehouse, explaining their role in the community and the important part they all played in making it work. The set was like a fantasy squat. It was scruffy and almost unliveable for some, but so cleverly recycled that it was satisfying. As a 'keeper' I was shown around by 'Ash' (Emily Owens) who revealed the DM room that nobody goes into, and the breeding room where 'you know what' happens. It was planned to such detail, that even a film set couldn't have topped the intricacies that went into this convincing backdrop. After hearing the hustle and bustle of the other groups being toured around, we were all brought together into the celebration area, given apples and treated to an explosive tribal dance (hats off to Cindy-I wanted to join in) before settling in to experience the final dues to Abrun, who had clearly become a much coveted leader and was reaching his 18th Birthday. By this point, we had all warmed to Abrun, and he had the right amount of endearing-ness for me to shed real tears at the thought of him stepping down and committing to death. THAT is how involved we all were at this stage. After an interval, we returned to the celebration of Abrun's reign, and a series of 'best-man' style speeches were given in an ode to him and his leadership. A touching song led by Ash and the cast created an emotive soundscape making it all the more upsetting. This was added to by an interpretive movement piece from character 'Hermese' (Gracie-Jayne Angel) and a tribute from Abrun's love George. All the arrows were pointing to Abrun choosing his half brother Chase (Bruce Langley) to take over the Den as leader. In an indecisive moment, Chase showed that maybe he didn't have what a leader needs, and as the audience were split again, we were left in a room with Abrun, who tells us of his desire to remain a leader for a little while longer. This is much to the dismay of his pack who are starting to go loopy at the possibility of who will be chosen next, each one of them thinking they may be a better suitor, each one of them losing the plot in their teenage angst. The surprise entrance of a pregnant lady (A Norwan played by Emmeline Prior) presented a huge moral dilemma, and provided the route of the story with a winding path and a much needed adult perspective to shed light on the chaos that was starting to prevail. I don't want to go into too much detail as to how this piece ended. I have a deep hope that it will run again and I wouldn't want to write out everything in case it took away from a future experience that I hope more people can have (although I would love to as I have so much to say!) This is by far one of the best pieces of immersive theatre I have been a part of. What a talented woman Gbemisola is to think up a production that poses so many questions about our youth, and the future that lies ahead, but also to give this age group a voice through such an engaging platform. It posed so many questions, some rhetorical, some that urgently needed answering, but this plot was certainly challenging. There was no pretentiousness, no £50 tickets, no 'untouchable abstractness' and no moment that wasn't worth lapping up. This was a piece that everyone could grasp, and the environment created by the set designers was so real. When talking to people afterwards, comparisons were being made to the 'The Beach', 'Lord of the Flies', 'Animal Farm', and even 'Kidulthood' sprang to mind. A huge well done to Cindy Claes for directing the movement and choreography which had a gritty afro-tribal feel, and Brian Appiah Obeng, the Parkour master for their input to the show. I could see how their contribution had made the piece so up to date and extra dynamic. A final mention to the UNBELIEVABLE cast. You were all so inspiring, believable and memorable. I bet you will all remember what a great experience it must have been to be a part of this, and it was mentioned more than once by some of you that it was down to Gbemisola Ikumelo's inclusive and empowering direction style that gave everyone what they needed to perform the way they did.
Emily Rose Owens who played Ash
I've never been so certain, that this needs to run again. No. this WILL run again. When it does, you should run with it. Don't be afraid to visit...THE DEN. To find out more about Faith Drama and their projects go to: http://www.faithdrama.org.uk
Gbemisola Ikumelo creator of Faith Drama productions is collaborating with a large talented team of people to create an incredible immersive theatre performance from Thursday 10th September- Saturday 12th September 2015 in an all encompassing warehouse setting in Hackney Wick.
Gbemisola is the writer and director of the show and talks us through how it got to this point and what the show is about. After sitting in on a rehearsal, I felt totally drawn into the drama and conflict that was unfolding before me, and Gbemisola's directing style was engaging and sharp. The actors I chatted with discussed how useful and progressive it was working with her as a director, and I could see how she knew exactly what she wanted from the actors and how this would lead to a hard-hitting well considered performance. It was a pleasure to talk to Cindy Claes who, as you know, has already featured in an exclusive interview on the blog (read her interview here.) She's not only an incredible dancer, but a movement director who is contributing her expertise to this show. A little teaser of the show....
90 years after the London riots the governments laws
controlling childbirth has seen many children flee.
The Den becomes the only place of solace left but in a world where
"adulthood breeds corruption"
What happens on your 18th birthday?
It's a must see! I've seen the set and its overwhelmingly well thought out...and what's more...there's even parkour to add to the mix. Get your tickets now! You can book by clicking the link below: http://stratfordeast.com/whats-on/all-shows/the-den
