Birmingham based theatre company, Rush, that promotes the positive aspects of a multi-cultural society through a mix of education and music, blasted their way in to Edinburgh on Saturday night. As part of its UK tour, their latest show, RUSH – A Joyous Jamaican Journey, lived up to its alliterative title with jingling bells on!
DJ Ken Dread, a man with the longest dreadlocks and flashiest shoes in the business, opened the show. To the sound of a ship’s hooter, to remind us of the anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush to Tilbury Docks in 1948, and a medley of reggae tunes, he sets the scene for this fitter than fitting tribute to these hopeful invitees to post war Britain.
With the jumpin’ 9 piece JA Reggae Band already on stage ready to roll in natty rude boy gear, the show’s narrator, comedian John Simmit, takes over. With his sassy no holds barred chat, and the aid of some projected visuals (unfortunately not so well positioned for those on the high up seats), he tells the history of Jamaica, the influence of its wide range of music and its impact on not just Black British culture but on British culture as a whole. Over the piece, as well as being thoroughly entertaining, Simmit highlights the chronology of political events in line with development of chiming musical genres.
The variety of songs are brought to life through the vibrant vocals and striking stage presence of Ika along with Janice Williamson, both of whose work is tellingly influenced by Gospel music.
While Jamaicans were listening to esoteric reggae sounds that weren’t being heard on the radio at the time, mainstream listeners were being happily seduced to the genre through versions that had been adapted for UK reggae ingénues by artists such as Desmond Dekker and the Aces, Boney M and Mille Small. Part of that was the 2 Tone movement of the late ‘70s, that is honoured with a medley from the likes of The Specials, Bad Manners and Madness when the band, who were never idle even when not playing, did their version of the trademark Madness walk off the front of the stage and back on again.
Despite the audience demographic that Simmit kindly referred to as ‘vintage’, there was plenty of dancing in the aisles and bopping in the seats at this all round zingy piece of ensemble theatre that was astutely directed by Orvil Pinnock.
Made up of sharp dressers, nifty movers, soulful singers and versatile musicians, these guys are as cool as a packet of Pacers mints! (in joke from the show)
The tour, that kicked off in June at the Leeds Playhouse with Edinburgh as its sole Scottish date, continues across several English venues listed below, before its climax at London’s Wembley as part of the Windrush 75th Anniversary event.
Running time 2hours 45 minutes
September
Fri & Sat 1st & 2nd 0xford Playhouse
Sat 9th Watford, Palace
Sat 30th Hexagon, Reading
October
Wed 4th Doncaster CAST
Sat 7th Croydon, Fairfield Halls
Sat 21st Wembley, London
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 