★★★★
Beatboxing is a musical artform as accomplished as any other. It hits the ear with the same intensity as a sonata from a piano. SK Shlomo’s very personality comes through in their beatboxing, their mouth an instrument. Along with live sound looping with a Mi.Mu Glove (created by Imogen Heap) And a trusty mixing desk, the stage is set for Shlomo’s story.
Shlomo tells a story of their Iraqi-Jewish heritage, growing up in North London. How their Aunts would make them feel the centre of attention, loved, mesmerised by the beauty of belly-dancing. Then comes the shock of attending a white school, which is miserable and grey, lacking the colour of their home life. There is bullying and alienation, struggling in their studies, with an ADHD brain that wasn’t understood. But their burgeoning love of raves and beatboxing saves the day.
For someone who isn’t a natural raver, the stark contrast between the poetic monologue and the full on thumping bass that encouraged spontaneous dance and head banging, was a bit much for me, but Shlomo did everything they could to make someone as reluctant as me, feel totally welcome.
In the latter parts of the play, Shlomo deals with mental health, gender identity and being a single parent; there was a lot to unpack and I felt we only scratched the surface with some of what Shlomo wanted to talk about.
Shlomo’s central message of love, acceptance and speaking their truth was genuinely heartening, they welcomed their audience in totally, and for that they deserve the respect and love that they so freely give.
