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Blak Whyte Gray

Boy Blue

— ,Barbican Theatre

Fierce, bold and affecting, this galvanising hip-hop dance triple bill reflects themes of identity, oppression and transcendence in a performance of pure physical poetry. 

The time is right to ask questions, to break free from the inner tension of a system that isn’t working, and to emerge on the other side to an awakening – a return to roots, a celebration of culture.

As the first full-length abstract work by Boy Blue’s founders, Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante and Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy, Blak Whyte Gray is personal, a response to their experiences and observations of the world. Set to the resonating sounds of a multilayered electronic score, the powerful choreography and staging make for an image-rich production with political bite. After its premiere here in January, the show earned an Olivier nomination.

Tagged with: Theatre & dance The Art Of Change Dance

Duration: 1 hour 30 mins, including an interval
Age guidance: 12+

Produced by Boy Blue. Co-commissioned and co-produced by the Barbican. Supported using public funding by Arts Council England. Boy Blue is an Artistic Associate of the Barbican

Creative team

Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy Creator & Director
Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante Creator & Director
Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy Choreographer
Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante Music
Lee Curran Lighting
Ryan Dawson Laight Costume

Reviews

‘The synchronized movement [will] thrill you to the core‘
The Scotsman
‘Rich and melancholy joy … there’s a sense of intensely distilled feeling, of dance cut to its essence – that you only rarely encounter.‘
Luke Jennings, Observer
‘A triumph of awesome technique.‘
Lyndsey Winship, Evening Standard
‘...underpinned by a host of issues – anti-capitalism, ‘the narcissism of social media’, Black Lives Matter...the undercurrents of rage and frustration are unmistakable‘
Louise Levene, Financial Times
‘There is an important universality to this message about forging identity and shaking off what weighs you down that everyone can embrace.‘
Siobhan Murphy, londondance.com
‘A remarkable triple bill melds everything from body popping to krump and African dance.‘
Sanjoy Roy, The Guardian

Part of The Art of Change

Our 2018 season explores how the arts respond to, reflect and potentially effect change in the social and political landscape.
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cover artwork for BLAKWHYTEGRAY

Listen: BlakWhyteGray by Michael 'Mikey J' Asante

Listen to Michael 'Mikey J' Asante's BlakWhyteGray album.

mikey and george on a couch

In conversation: Michael 'Mikey J' Asante and George the Poet

 

Michael 'Mikey J' Asante (co-founder and co-artistic director of Boy Blue) and George the Poet share their thoughts on their creative process, the idea of community, and how art can transform lives.

olaf breuning smoke installation at the barbican centre in london

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