Music and dance collide in festival’s theatre double


This year’s BASS Festival will draw to a close next week with a theatre double bill that incorporates music, dance and spoken word performance.

The two shows, ‘IFE - A Nigerian Love Story’ and ‘1968: The Year That Never Ended’, will play back-to-back at the Birmingham REP Theatre on Friday 26 June.

Opener ‘IFE’, which translates as ‘love’ in the Yoruba language, is the story of a Nigerian married couple whose relationship is disrupted by the husband’s disappearance. The wife expresses her heartache through dance, while the husband expresses his feelings through rap. The musical is a metaphor for the relationship between Africa and the African Diaspora, featuring live music performed by former Fela Kuti band member and Afrobeat musician Dele Sosimi.

Presented by Renaissance One, ‘1968’ is a one-person show written and performed by acclaimed performance poet Adisa. Exploring issues of politics, religion and culture within the context of this historically profound year, ‘1968’ also features special guest musician Randolph Matthews.

The theatre double bill will be the final live event of BASS to take place in Birmingham. Fans of the festival will still be able to catch iconic artist Lemi Ghariokwu’s work at Birmingham Central Library’s ‘The Art of Album Covers’ exhibition until 6 July, or travel slightly further afield to Derby for the QUAD Graffiti launch for a showcase of art and music.

This year’s BASS has already received the acclaim of being the only Birmingham-based festival to feature in The Sunday Times’ ‘Top 100 Festivals’, and has broadened its reach to deliver the exhibition ‘Art’s Own Kind’ in London, which featured special guest appearances from iconic artist Lemi Ghariokwu and Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen.

‘IFE – A Nigerian Love Story’ and ‘1968: The Year That Never Ended’ will take to the boards from 7.45pm on 26 June. Tickets cost £8, allowing entry into both performances, and can be purchased at www.birmingham-rep.co.uk or from the Box Office on 0121 236 4455.

For more information on BASS Festival, visit www.bassfestival.co.uk or www.punch-records.co.uk.