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Edinburgh Fringe

2023

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Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz

Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz

Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz

5/5

By Fringebiscuit

Crumpled paper card with big black capitals reading We Read Just the Title and We're Giving 5/5, No Notes, and a red balloon held in a hand

The Twittique / TL;DR

@Nathan_QD 's 1hr odyssey of love & self-discovery is more conversation than monologue. From Beyoncé lyrics to techno raves, the plot unfolds like jazz improv: fluid, daring, familiar, unpredictable— a moving communion of humour, heritage & heart.

Monologues often run the risk of becoming soliloquies, but Nathan Queeley-Dennis' (@nqdworld) "Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz" captivates with the force of a dialogue🥊 The piece, produced by Ellie Keel Productions (@ellie_keel_productions), The Belgrade Theatre (@belgradetheatre) & Paines Plough (@painesplough), in association with Royal Exchange Theatre (@rxtheatre), explores themes of love, Black masculinity, and cultural identity through the central character, Nathaniel, a #romantic in search of his perfect match💘 An homage to #Birmingham, this Bruntwood Prize-winning narrative unfolds like #jazz improv: fluid, daring, unpredictable…Drawing from Birmingham's eclectic culture & the actor-writer's Afro-Caribbean background, this unique theatrical journey blends #Beyoncé, bad fades, office bluds, and the beats of techno raves into a vibrant slice-of-life tale😎 Beginning with the deeply intimate relationship between a man & his barber (#NoLiesDetected), Queeley-Dennis grounds us in a deliciously specific yet totally universal world…This is a performance where the audience transcends ‘spectator’; call it a conversation, a communal happening, even a #spiritual experience. Queeley-Dennis’ natural comedic flair turns every line into a heartfelt zinger, making you LOL & reflect in the same moment. Nathaniel’s search for meaning in his own #Black masculinity is portrayed with a sensitivity & depth that’s both enlightening & empowering. It’s giving #JamesBaldwin-level introspection with a fun, #LennyHenry sugar coating…If theatre has a purpose, we’d say it's to foster connection & reflect the diversity of human experience🤓 #BullringTechnoMakeoutJamz does just that, with a winning combination of humour, cultural insight, and poetic lyricism. What starts as a well-meaning search for a romantic partner becomes a powerful call for self-love & acceptance❤️; it's a window into the transformative power of self-discovery… #maestro Queeley-Dennis plays our collective heartstrings like a pro, in an unmissable ode to love, Birmingham and #BlackBritish life.

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