REVIEW: Play On! At Lyric Hammersmith 28 Jan – 22 Feb 2025 and on tour

Photographer: Ciara Hillyer (image above):  Koko Alexandra

‘moves an audience to laugh and cry while dancing in their seats’ ★★★★★ 

UK's leading Black theatre company TALAWA are touring their jazz-fuelled family friendly retelling of Twelfth Night, Play On! The stage is set with a full band including drums, bass, piano, clarinet and trumpet. The lighting and staging sets the scene of a 1940s speakeasy. The excitement has already begun to build. 

The first dance routine begins and sets our pulses racing with their precision and sharp jazz style with a distinct hip hop influence. This wonderfully polished precision and energy within the dance routines continues throughout the show. 

This unique musical riff on Shakespeare Twelve Night fuses the music of Duke Ellington with present day hiphop. The story is set in a cotton club in 1940s, where we follow a young aspiring songwriter Vy, who soon realises that disguising herself as a man will give her a better chance at success in a male dominated world. 

Vy is played by Tsemaye Bob-Egbe who brings a unique, youthful and innocent energy to the role that draws the audience into the story instantly. Vy is soon swept up into the musical storm of the Duke and Lady Liv, adding, mistaken identity and romance into the mix. 

The unmistakably beautiful vocal performance of Lady Liv, played by Koko Alexandra, particularly the first song, is deeply moving. The wonderful deep tones of the Duke, played by Earl Gregory gives depth and meaning to every musical interaction. The sultry dance routines that accompany the duets add charm and romance exactly where it is required.

The cast of dancers effortlessly shift between high energy routines with spectacular precision to gentle sensitivity in softer routines.

The vocal arrangements give each cast member the opportunity to blend their voices in perfect harmony, during the ensemble songs.

This casting gives the show the energy, professionalism and talent that moves an audience to laugh and cry while dancing in their seats. Every element of this production supports, this story of love, identity and belonging. Play On is black joy at its finest.

Play On! At Lyric Hammersmith 28 Jan – 22 Feb 2025

Box Office

Conceived by Sheldon Epps 

Book by Cheryl L.West. 

Music by Duke Ellington. 

Directed by Michael Buffong.

A Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, Talawa Theatre Company, Belgrade Theatre, Birmingham Hippodrome, Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse, and Wiltshire Creative co-production. 

Presented by J Clare Productions and Chuchu Nwagu Productions