BrumHour was invited to the media night of 10 Soldiers by Birmingham Hippodrome.
For Brum Radio’s Interval Theatre, BrumHour’s Dave Massey spoke to Rosie Kay about 10 Soldiers. Listen below:
By Dave Massey twitter.com/BrumHour
World Premiere: 10 Soldiers at Birmingham Hippodrome
Choreographer and Director Rosie Kay, Producer James Preston
BrumHour doesn’t normally review performances that are taking place for one night only, BUT there are some exceptions to this rule. 10 Soldiers is one of these. Having seen previous works of Birmingham-based Rosie Kay in the past few years like MK Ultra, the Birmingham handover of the Commonwealth Games and Rosie Kay’s work on Woyzeck at Birmingham Rep.
The ten performers (Our 10 Soldiers), Olly Bell, Luke Bradshaw, Harriet Ellis, Emma Houston, Alan Hunte, Josh Hutchby, Kevin Memeti, Jonathan Mewett, Gareth Mole, James Rosental and Akshay Sharma spend the first part exploring “From Civvy Street to Soldier” from their first days in the army to preparing to leave the UK on a tour.
Following the interval we return to explore life on a tour, we are in a different timezone with the sounds of BBC World Service from the late 00’s. parts two, three and four which make up the second half explore different aspects of army life including the short and medium term effects of war on soldiers. and repercussions.
There were several moments that reminded me I was watching dance based performers rather than performing soldiers, the only items on stage are tyres and their big rucksacks, they throw these items as well as each other around the stage with gracefulness and precision.
The music varies massively from Katy Perry to Ride of the Valkyries, there are moments of humour, sadness and shock.
This is an important work and accessible to a wide audience rather than just those interested in dance. Worth looking out for if performed locally again.
10 Soldiers heads to Edinburgh Festival Theatre on 30th May and Norwich Theatre Royal 4th June. Find out more here: rosiekay.co.uk/project/10-soldiers/
This isn’t a sponsored post.
When not writing about theatre for BrumHour, or producing Interval Theatre for Brum Radio (Tuesdays 3pm) brumradio.com/intervaltheatre,
Dave Massey can be found eating crisps and claiming to be at the gym. And tweeting about Birmingham for #BrumHour.
