Press
The London Urban Collectives' performance of “Purgatory” as a Hipopera is one of our capital city's rarest shows. One that educates you and leaves you feeling far better about Britain's much-maligned 'youth of today'.
Following their 2009 award-winning production of “Inferno”, Harry Leckstein and Jay Enticknap's collection of youngsters now tackle the filling of Dantes sandwich-like tale.
The skills they are taught during their 1-week intensive training, enables them to give both an energetic and accomplished performance. I definitely observed a few 'diamonds in the rough' amongst the cast. No-one forgot their lines or cues and when something did go wrong; - the mics, through no fault of their own - they carried on as if they had been performing on the stage for years.
The real beauty though; was in the way all thirty members of the collective – aged 15 to 25 - were involved, regardless of the level of each person's abilities. They wrote their own script and composed their songs, with the support of the skilled production team members. There is clearly a strong unity within the group and a deep sense of pride in the quality of what they produced. This is also evident from those in the team that guides and supports them.
They took a tale from a time long ago and managed to translate it into something both they and a modern audience could understand and relate to. Covering various musical genres, they ensured we remembered that great stories don't change, only the way they are told does. They used both language and style that kept them true to the world they have grown up and lived in.
Their next step will be to film the performance for a DVD, before returning to London's Pleasance Theatre for ten more shows in December of this year. Having seen the DVD from the previous year, I can assure you this will be something to look forward to.
All proceeds they raise will be used to build a recording studio within their community of London. A long-lasting memory that should make each and every member and supporter of the London Urban Collective very very proud.
Natasha Henry