The DJ welcomes you in, gets the crowd going, and welcomes our two headliners for the night – Aria and Cleff – whose stories are about to collide; all to the backdrop of retro R&B and Garage music. Bangers, on at the Roundabout in Summerhall is a club night-themed play that is engaging throughout.
Written by Danusia Samal, who also performs, in co-production with Soho Theatre and Cardboard Citizens, the story follows two seemingly unconnected characters, in “urban London” as one struggles to deal with past trauma and the other finds himself currently in the midst of it. Aria is a lost woman recently out of a break up who has vowed off singing due to past trauma. Cleff is a young adult struggling with his dad’s recent death and his relationship to sex.
Their two stories are told side-by-side, with each actor playing supporting characters in the other’s story. Both stories are engaging on their own, but together, the parallels of the stories really show the tightness of the script. Their collision is inevitable but nevertheless surprising and satisfying
The acting is strong, with both actors able to comfortably and convincingly play the multiple characters required. The DJ acts as a narrator and architect throughout the show; the interactions between the actors and DJ are fun and inventive. The DJ having control over the characters, forcing them to recount past trauma or play characters they don’t want to, is a great device, reminding us of the influence music can have on us.
A large amount of the script is written in rhyme, which helps to keep the audience captivated – even when there is no beat, music is still driving the show and the characters. A slightly unsatisfying ending, combined with a shakier vocals on the last song don’t give the show the triumphant finish it deserves, but this does not detract from the powerful performances delivered.
Over 10 original tracks and one club night, Bangers traverses many themes, including sex, love, class, and trauma. It’s a heartfelt and genuine look at how we deal with past trauma, how we wrestle with who we are, and the power music can have.
