Reviews of Habibi Funk 031, Kayatibu, and The Good Ones
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Transform 19, Leeds citywide
Transform 19, Leeds
Issues of gender, identity, state repression and digital surveillance figured large in a major festival of experimental theatre and dance
Absurdist: bYOB
[JMA Photography]
SIMON DUFF relishes the cross contamination of Damien Hirst’s greatest hits by street artists from France and the US
In view of the grooming gangs inquiry, SIMON PARSONS feels the relevance of this powerful examination of trauma suffered at Medomsley Youth Detention Centre
JOHN GREEN doubts the motivations of a US war photographer who never questions why, or for whom, she is producing images of imperialist conflict
MARIA DUARTE reviews Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, Hedda, The Mastermind, and Regretting You
TONY CONWAY welcomes a thrilling and concise history of Hope not Hate, that is also a manual full of tactical advice
PAUL DONOVAN welcomes an inspiring account of living with deafness that has important lessons for the treatment of deaf people in today’s UK
OVER its two-week run, Transform hosted groups from all over the world to provide their perspectives on some big global themes.
One is a perceived “crisis of masculinity” and different notions of it are touched upon in bYOB, a new piece from Britain’s 70/30 Split. It starts chillingly, with a man in black combat gear silently outstaring the audience.
But before long matters turns increasingly absurd. The cast of four variously go on to reference the Milk Tray Man, the rose petals in American Beauty and the giant teddy bears of Jeff Koons while reappropriating morris dancing, military training and slumber parties in what’s a humorous yet pointed piece exploring the need to belong and the dangers of this being misdirected.
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