A 24-Decade History of Popular Music: The First Act
(USA)
Taylor Mac
Barbican Theatre
'I HAVE BUT 300 WORDS TO REVIEW TAYLOR MAC’S CONCERT EXTRAVAGANZA... MY REMAINING 270 SHOULD SIMPLY BE: ‘GO!’'
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Time Out New York Critics’ Pick
'AWAKE AND SING! THE CHURCH OF TAYLOR MAC HAS OPENED ITS DOORS. LET THE REJOICING BEGIN ... GO. NOW'
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Mercury News, San Francisco
'EXPLOSIVE, SPECTACULAR, HEARTBREAKING ... THIS SHOW IS EVERYTHING'
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Guardian
Fabulous and fearless, Taylor Mac reframes the social history of America through three decades of song in this no-holds-barred extravaganza of music, art, activism and hugely entertaining mass ritual.
Joined onstage by a 24-piece orchestra and a host of local special guests drawn from London’s own performance community, New York’s Taylor Mac has created a Pulitzer Prize-nominated, once-in-a-lifetime performance in a quest to chronicle how communities grow stronger as they are being torn apart.
Charting the years 1776–1806, Mac asks the audience to conspire together to reimagine rebellions, revolutions, triumphs and tragedies. Bawdy pub songs, sea shanties and subversive anthems are rearranged as musical mashups to take on a chapter of the defining early years of America’s history.
THU 28 – SAT 30 JUNE, 7.30PM
TICKETS £16 - £60
'ONE OF THE GREAT EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE.'
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The New York Times
'TAYLOR MAC SEDUCES YOU, BREAKS YOUR HEART, PATCHES IT BACK UP AGAIN AND SEWS SEQUINS ALONG THE SCARS.'
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Irish Times
Approximately 3 hours/no interval, the audience is invited to enter and exit at liberty during the performance
Age guidance 16+
For audiences with additional access requirements, please contact the Barbican’s Box Office on 020 7638 8891
There will be a BSL interpreted performance on 30 June
Tickets booked via liftfestival.com are subject to a £2.50 booking fee per transaction. LIFT has a limited number of tickets available if your preferred performance is sold out please book via the Barbican’s website at barbican.org.uk (£3 booking fee applies)
For assistance with booking via liftfestival.com, please call the LIFT booking helpline on 020 7968 6808 Monday – Friday between the hours of 12-6pm
Presented by LIFT and the Barbican, produced by Pomegranate Arts and Nature’s Darlings with support from Sharon Karmazin.
Part of the Barbican’s 2018 Season, The Art of Change, which explores how artists respond to,
reflect and can potentially effect change in the social and political landscape. Find out more here.
Creative Team:
Conceived and Co-Directed by Taylor Mac
Musical Direction by Matt Ray
Co-Direction by Niegel Smith
Costumes by Machine Dazzle
Lighting by John Torres
Dramaturgy by Jocelyn Clarke
Produced by Pomegranate Arts and Nature’s
Darlings: Linda Brumbach, Executive Producer and
Alisa Regas, Associate Producer
Photography by Little Fang and Sarah Walker