A unique, ‘first of its kind’ garage musical is coming to London this summer. ‘Bangers’, which originally debuted in Edinburgh is a musical inspired by the house music scene and has been described a a ‘lyrical love letter to UK garage’.
The description for ‘Bangers’ on the Arcola Theatre’s website describes the show as a ‘5* Edinburgh smash hit’ and promises an ‘exhilarating night of original music, lyrical storytelling, and pure UK garage vibes’. It poses the question ‘How do the bangers we grew up listening to shape who we are today?’.
The show was written by Danusia Samal and directed by Chris Sonnex. ‘Bangers’ features original tracks that take inspiration from the music that defined the early 2000s as well as today’s R&B and Garage scene that has gripped so much of the UK. Samal’s writing is ‘constructed in the style of an album – and you can’t help but want to sway along to the songs’ writes the Guardian in a review of the musical from 2020. The show ‘follows the highs and lows of two strangers struggling with their own pasts, while hurtling towards the future’. It is set in urban London and tells a story of ‘love, sex, and the power of music’.
It boasts a truly recognisable cast which includes Tanya-Loretta Dee who has appeared in shows like Eastenders, Peaky Blinders and Doctors. She will be joined by returning cast members and writer of the show Danusia Samal who can be seen in The Serial Killer’s Wife and Jim Caesar who appeared in Netflix’s drama mini-series, Baby Reindeer as well as one of the UK’s most loves murder mystery series, Death in Paradise and also The Witcher.
Originally commissioned by London’s Soho Theatre, the team are partnering up with Arcola, Cardboard Citizens, and Cardboard Collective to create a ‘community-driven wrap-around activity’ in which events will be set up to support and encourage emerging artists and young creatives who’ve a passion for theatre and music. The community programme will also provide aid and a safe space for those struggling with themes that are touched on in the show ‘such as housing insecurity, homelessness, and the challenges of growing up in urban areas’ as mixmag writes
‘Bangers’ vows to provide an unforgettable night of exhilarating music and anyone who is a fan of the electronic scene should definitely give it a watch. ‘Bangers’ bodes a striking experience for audiences with a number of five star reviews including the Guardian deeming it ‘galvanising and effortless, this is a must-see for music heads and non-music heads alike’. The ‘DJ’ or narrator of the performance is said to interact with the audience, creating an immersive affair as if you were at the nightclub yourself.
Each show lasts for 70 minutes and will kick off at the theatre on the 17th of July, continuing for three weeks until the 10th of August. Tickets are selling from £12 and can be purchased from the link here along more details on the show.
