There should be dancing in the streets. There has never been anything like this.’ Ben Brantley, New York Times
FELA! – a provocative and wholly unique hybrid of dance, theatre and music, exploring the extravagant, decadent and rebellious world of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti – will be filmed live at the National’s Olivier Theatre and broadcast to screens in Australia on 5 and 6 February, 2011.
Using his pioneering music (a blend of jazz, funk and African rhythm and harmonies), FELA! reveals Kuti’s controversial life as an artist and political activist. Featuring many of Fela Kuti’s most captivating songs and Bill T Jones’s visionary staging, this original new creation has come via Broadway to the National Theatre. In New York it was the winner of three 2010 Tony Awards including Best Choreography.
Sahr Ngaujah (who won an Obie Award for his performance as Fela Kuti) leads the new cast for the London production, which also includes Paulette Ivory and Melanie Marshall.
I’ve never seen a show quite like it at the National. It’s a great story and one told with enormous verve in Bill T. Jones’s kaleidoscopic production – The Guardian
Triumphant… A musical of rare choreographic splendour and political bite – Sunday Times
No ordinary musical… a fierce explosion of fizzing theatrical energy – Sunday Express
NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE performances are filmed live in high definition and broadcast via satellite to over 300 cinemas around the world, live in Europe and some US cities, and time-delayed in countries further afield. There are over 75 venues in the UK alongside venues in the USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Scandinavia and Europe. The performances at the National are nominated in advance to allow cameras greater freedom in the auditorium.
FELA! runs 3 hours, including pre-show and interval. Two shows only at 1pm Saturday and Sunday 5 and 6 February, 2011.
Tickets for all performances are available now at the box office and online http://www.palacenova.com
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