A huge triumph in the art of making Jazz inclusive, reviving Charles Mingus’s electric score and absolutely nailing the act of effectively executing interactive theatre.
By Hamza Jahanzeb – 22 September 2024
Photo credit: Graeme Miall / https://www.gm.photography/
Charles Mingus’ 1963 album The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady is a seminal 20th century jazz composition and is still regularly cited as Mingus’ finest hour. Mingus always envisioned dance accompanying his provocative masterpiece. To honour that vision and to bring Mingus’ music to life for a new generation, Clod Ensemble and Nu Civilisation Orchestra wanted to fill the Barbican Theatre with sound and movement across three shows in September 2024.
It was a really interesting experience to have the team transform the stage into a vibrant cabaret venue. It meant that punters could lose themselves in the music on the circular dancefloor or take a backseat and soak up the atmosphere with a drink from the on-stage bar. Everyone, including wallflowers, were invited to this electric celebration.
This is a new production of The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady follows Clod Ensemble and Nu Civilisation Orchestra’s sold-out performances at Shoreditch Town Hall in November 2023.
As well as showcasing Charles Mingus’ classic album in full, the show also features three new compositions: Let’s Lime by Romarna Campbell, Slow Dance by Peter Edwards and Cripps Yard by Paul Clark.
Directed by Suzy Willson, Clod Ensemble’s dynamic dancers will join the orchestra, led by MOBO-nominated Peter Edwards and featuring Artistic Director Gary Crosby OBE on bass. Students from Rambert School accompanied Clod Ensemble’s dancers in this production.
I want to begin this review by stating one thing: that I am by no means an expert on Jazz music, nor do I profess to knowing anything about Charles Mingus (whose album ‘The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady‘ the eponymous title of this piece is named after) before having looked him up. However, I arrived at the Barbican rather tired, exhausted from a day at work on a Thursday night (the new Friday apparently ) and only having had a few hours of sleep the night previous.
Nevertheless, the Barbican stage (where I last saw My Neighbour Totoro) is hugely transformed, meaning punters arrive to the space in which Black Saint is staged – via an entrance to the and see the wings of the theatre space.
What this show does is perfectly encapsulate the music of Mingus with the backdrop of a cutting-edge dance troupe whose ability to move is hugely infectious. In this piece in particular, every single member made the effort to bring as much of the audience wanted to. In the first act, I was tapping in my seat – eventually getting up to boogie on the spot. In the second act, however, is when I too found myself in the circular safe space to revel in the beautiful soul sound that Mingus’s music evokes. It was joyous, filled with nuances and to hear the live music and dancers was truly an ethereal experience.
I would highly encourage you to look into a production of The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady were it to rear its head: let’s just hope it isn’t another three years for this new fan of the clod Ensemble and Nu Civilisation Orchestra! This work captivating, entrancing piece of theatre deserves to be seen by a wider audience; I will be very excited for the next iteration of this modern masterpiece of interactive theatre experiences and where it takes the creatives next.
**N.B. This is an honest review, in exchange for a gifted / complimentary ticket. The reviewer has written this with their editorial control, with no external influence on how to frame the show. #AdvertisementFeature #PRInvite #Gifted #ad **