Soho at the Peacock Theatre
A peculiarly mesmerising jaunt through 24 hours of life in London’s Soho, Abigail Yeates’s circus/theatre production involves dancing, trapeze, aerial straps and hoops, martial arts, stunts and drag. And much like the real Soho, it’s exciting, diverse and more than a little bit weird.
The two halves of the show, daytime and nighttime, are made up of individual scenes of everyday Soho. From the tube, the gym and Soho Square during the day to Chinatown, Madame Jojo’s and the Colony Rooms at night. Each scene is brought to life by a host of impossible acts, choreographed by Eleni Edipidi and executed flawlessly by the 12 world-class performers. Each and every star of this display is at the top of their game and is truly incredible to watch.
Clever use of the set with various screens and projectors provides an immersive experience, taking the audience right into the heart of Soho. The projected video works better than the occasional computer graphics, which are far from brilliant. But few would ever be watching the background while the performers are on stage. All in all, the set, coupled with bustling noises of this area of the West End, does well to create an atmosphere that is key to the narrative, without which the piece would just be a bunch of people dancing on a stage.
The story, while fairly basic, is a strong celebration of what makes Soho special. Some scenes aren’t totally obvious but the general gist is easy enough to understand. There’s no deeper meaning but then anything that may take focus away from the performers or the simple “Soho is great” message wouldn’t be welcomed.
Soho, as a part dance, part circus piece, is full of wonder and amazement; odd at times, not everyone will connect with the narrative, but no one could deny just how stunningly impressive this show is.
Jim Compton-Hall
Photos: Stufish
Soho is on at the Peacock Theatre from 6th until 20th May 2017. Book your tickets here.
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