Zip
Inspired by the escalating loss of life due to gun and knife crime in London, Giant Olive’s new musical, playing as part of the Camden Fringe, treads on its own tail too much to effectively speak out.
A scene from Zip at the Lion and Unicorn Photo: Emma Lynch/BBC
The eight-strong chorus of dead teenagers who have all been “merked” (murdered) by bullet or by blade forms the heart of the piece.
Gary Lloyd’s effective street dance-inspired choreography combines with Tom Swarman’s beatboxing and James Kenward’s quickfire, explosive rap to effectively convey the inability to understand why they have died.
Unfortunately, the main plot - four teenagers held hostage by a gang of three young men on the run from the police - works far less well.
Most of the dialogue is delivered at full shout, allowing for little variation of emotion. The most interesting part of the story, the estrangement of two brothers and the conflicting loyalty between family and gang, ends up being lost under a morass of unfocused hits at different topics - from class prejudice to Afghanistan.
After the cast take their bows, they each take turns to dedicate their performance to a real life teenager who has lost their life.
That simple message, and the knowledge that there is a growing list of names which could have been used, is more powerful and effective than anything that has gone before.
Production information
- Composer:
- Anthony Warnes
- Management:
- Giant Olive Company
- Director:
- Ray Shell
- Choreography:
- Gary Lloyd
Production information can change over the run of the show.
Run sheet
- Lion and Unicorn London
- August 2- 4, 6- 8, 13-15, 27-29, 31-September 5 2010
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