SLAMDUNK
Co-directed with Benji Reid, Nitro Theatre.
In partnership with Sheffield Theatres and Contact, Manchester
In association with New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich
National UK Tour & Stuttgart, Germany.
2004
I wrote the script for this rap, hip hop musical which is extremely loosely based on Shakespeare’s Coriolanus, set amongst street ball players: Basketball, Beats and Brotherhood. The cast was made up of actors who could rap, dance and play a bit of basketball and professional basketball players who could rap, dance a bit and maybe even act. The production toured for 17 weeks in England and Germany, playing to over 35,000 people.
“an edgy piece of drama which puts hip hop and black music theatre centre stage; Birmingham Evening Mail.
“it succeeds in making you care for its characters, it has a sly wit and electric energy, and the mixture of dance and basketball moves is never less than poetry. The cast are as wired as thoroughbreds at the starting gate for a big race. Don't even think about buying a ticket if you have passed your quarter century, but if you want to see what gets a young audience going, this is quite an experience.” Guardian