'If you think this is weird, just look at yourselves': Reviewing A Night of Charles Mingus at the Barbican

★★★★★ | This is what life is about – that’s all I could think of while I was experiencing The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady. It was nothing like I had ever experienced before in a theatre. The Nu Civilisation and the Clod Ensemble have brought to life Charles Mingus’ legendary album, The Black Saint and Yhe Sinner Lady, in a piece of theatre that the West End rarely sees, full stop.

The Barbican Theatre has been restyled for the performance as a cabaret-style club, with a raised platform for the orchestra, an on-stage bar (serving drinks throughout the performance), and many small tables around the edge and on the stage – because, tonight, we were part of the performance. There were fairy lights and pom-pom streamers adorning the ceilings, creating an intimate, homely, and celebratory feel.

As soon as I entered the space, there was already a sense of community. Audience members were immediately encouraged to mingle with one another and with the dancers as well, who were milling around the space chatting to us. I was nervous about going to the theatre alone, but the relaxed and friendly atmosphere immediately put me at ease. 

Image supplied by the production.

The evening began with three new compositions, performed exceptionally by the Nu Orchestra (directed by the fantastic Peter Edwards). After a short interval, they played Mingus’ album in its entirety. The dancers immediately began to encourage audience members to dance with them. Cue a 200-person sharp intake of breath: The night, here, hangs in balance… what if no one stands up? But with reluctance, someone did, then someone else, and someone else, until the stage was full of audience members and performers alike.

Within seconds, it became apparent that anything sort of went; the dancers encouraged people to follow their movements in whatever style or iteration they liked, as the host (Chloe Carter) simply encouraged us to move in tandem with how we felt and let the music flow through our bodies. And to my surprise, people did. Everyone collectively got stuck in and seemed to let go. It was mesmerising.

At times, the performers encouraged more organised movement, such as moving circles, a soul train, and travelling steps. Now if this is starting to sound suspiciously like a dance class, don’t be fooled: It felt like this was a crazy moment of oneness, where we could learn from the dancers without being taught. Watching it felt so overwhelming in such a beautiful way; seeing everyone come together in collective movements and then break away into moments of freedom and individuality was fascinating and beautiful. 

Image supplied by the production.

I felt a little apprehensive about joining in, but this slipped away as we joined this party on stage, dancing with strangers – following, but also actively not following, felt like a huge weight of difference and inhibition had suddenly been lifted. It felt euphoric and silly and important all at once. I think joining in versus sitting and soaking it in both had a distinct kind of magic. You could witness or experience something very special, or do both.

Every so often, the dancers would clear the space of audience members, and we’d get to see them dance individually or in pairs. These moments were quite literally breathtaking. The performers had such a fluidity of style, and their musicality was truly awesome. I have always thought dancers danced to music, but the Clod Ensemble seemed to become the music, creating shapes and moving with an electric dynamism. Their movements and the music became entirely inseparable. The Clod Ensemble and the Nu Civilisation Orchestra worked seamlessly together, bouncing off a perfect synergy to create a night I will truly never forget. 

Image supplied by the production.

The performance of The Black Saint & The Sinner Lady is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and not one to be missed. Every element was so full of vitality – this is what we need: collaboration and collectivism, in a world that seems so divided. This is life. This is what life should be about. Sharing our time, space, ideas and selves with others. For three nights only, the Barbican Theatre offered a glimpse into a future of immersive theatre that the world is ready for.

★★★★★

The Black Saint & The Sinner Lady played at the Barbican Theatre from 19 September to 21 September.