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Croydonbites 15 Oct
Review by Dee Bonner
CroydonBites features four Work in Progress sharings by artists at different stages of development. First up is KH Del Rio Smith's DESCENT; a personal solo story through words and song. Robed in white and long full hair, Del Rio introduces items that illustrate her pain. It is a quiet and humble show when she talks but her voice trills when she sings, and yet the overall tone remains comforting. The piece certainly brings different questions and emotional impact.
Simon Manyonda begins by setting up his mixing desk and a screen with a beyond cute childhood photo, warning us that he's a nerd and loves gadgets. He goes on to describe an autobiographical account of his Croydon life featuring some friends, some not-friends and him being cool (NOT!) This geek of HBO fame plays his home recordings and reminisces about the Nokia 3310 and Croydon life. We laugh as he describes his potential girlfriend encounter and the inevitable school struggles. The audience are fully engaged and laugh loudly but middle aged me still catches up.
With sincerity, Simon finishes with ‘I'm so glad I did this' - and we all are too. Two words: M O R E P L E A S E!
Another coming of age is by Beth Watson -the frenetic Crocus which follows an exciting and eventful new relationship. The audience interaction is addictive as we take part, helping decide if she should wear the slutty or the classy outfit for her date with her fan girlfriend (slutty, of course). This is funny and an easy watch with the colours and energy of a young couple, as exciting as dates should be.
You're so Croydon does what it says on the tin. We drink electric blue Fat Freddy concoctions (oops, I mean cocktails...) that elevate writer Katie Hurley’s night. We see Hurley in Ye Olde Croydon in so many clubs, with great friends and wild people, but also Katie at a crossroads where we glimpse her pain and feel her sadness. Recordings of her life loves show her resilience, and we are optimistic again. It ’ends’ with David Cameron as the 2017 riots take hold. We are thirsty and eager for more.
CroydonBites features four Work in Progress sharings by artists at different stages of development. First up is KH Del Rio Smith's DESCENT; a personal solo story through words and song. Robed in white and long full hair, Del Rio introduces items that illustrate her pain. It is a quiet and humble show when she talks but her voice trills when she sings, and yet the overall tone remains comforting. The piece certainly brings different questions and emotional impact.
Simon Manyonda begins by setting up his mixing desk and a screen with a beyond cute childhood photo, warning us that he's a nerd and loves gadgets. He goes on to describe an autobiographical account of his Croydon life featuring some friends, some not-friends and him being cool (NOT!) This geek of HBO fame plays his home recordings and reminisces about the Nokia 3310 and Croydon life. We laugh as he describes his potential girlfriend encounter and the inevitable school struggles. The audience are fully engaged and laugh loudly but middle aged me still catches up.
With sincerity, Simon finishes with ‘I'm so glad I did this' - and we all are too. Two words: M O R E P L E A S E!
Another coming of age is by Beth Watson -the frenetic Crocus which follows an exciting and eventful new relationship. The audience interaction is addictive as we take part, helping decide if she should wear the slutty or the classy outfit for her date with her fan girlfriend (slutty, of course). This is funny and an easy watch with the colours and energy of a young couple, as exciting as dates should be.
You're so Croydon does what it says on the tin. We drink electric blue Fat Freddy concoctions (oops, I mean cocktails...) that elevate writer Katie Hurley’s night. We see Hurley in Ye Olde Croydon in so many clubs, with great friends and wild people, but also Katie at a crossroads where we glimpse her pain and feel her sadness. Recordings of her life loves show her resilience, and we are optimistic again. It ’ends’ with David Cameron as the 2017 riots take hold. We are thirsty and eager for more.
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