Fela!

Synopsis

Following its sell out success at the National Theatre and a triple Tony Award-winning run on Broadway, Fela! arrives at Sadler’s Wells this summer, bursting with colour, infectious live music and exuberant dance.

Fela! tells the true story of the legendary Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, whose blend of jazz, funk and African rhythms ignited a generation. Combining dance, theatre and music, Fela! reveals Kuti’s controversial life as an artist and political activist in rousing fashion.

Featuring many of his best known songs, this limited run of Fela! will star Sahr Ngaujah, who has blown critics away with his magnetic performances in New York and London.

Fela! was choreographed, directed and co-written by Bill T. Jones, a leading light in American contemporary dance whose company, Bill T. Jones / Arnie Zane Dance Company last performed at Sadler’s Wells in 2004.

Our Review:

Jo Caird - 27 July 2011

Following triumphant runs on Broadway and at the National Theatre, Fela!, the musical which tells the story of the life of the afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, has come to Sadler’s Wells for what is sure to be an electrifying few weeks.

Sahr Ngaujah is wonderful in the title role, his seemingly boundless energy – both with the cast and when interacting with the audience – driving the show forwards. Ngaujah captures the charisma that brought the musician and activist such adoration and respect in the turbulent Nigeria of the 1970s.

The show’s conceit – a final concert by Kuti and his band at The Shrine in Lagos – works beautifully as a framing device, even if the moments where the music drops and Kuti is left to philosophise over his future choices appear low-energy in comparison with the rousing dance numbers. This contrast is far more successfully handled in the scene in which t...

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Latest User Review

A man - 10 August 2011:

Wow oh wow, I am not particularly a fan of musicals, I am not a particularly big fan of big shows but this was amazing! Yes its scrappy in places, some moments go on a bit long but this had enourmous heart and awe inspiring energy and the main guy is out of this world, it lit up sadlers wells and it left me with a huge smile on my face. If you want Wicked dont bother but if you want a night of fun and a very interesting story then this is for you!...

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