Beverley’s East Riding Theatre presents a play with a difference next week (Saturday, May 14).
Part play, part rave, “With a Little Bit of Luck” comes to the town on the second night of a 29-venue UK tour, culminating in five nights at London’s iconic Roundhouse.
Presented by innovative theatre company Paines Plough, described as “the UK’s national theatre of new plays”, With a Little Bit of Luck tells the story of Nadia and her adventures through the summer of 2001 – “the summer of love” as the famous tracks says.
UK Garage is the lifeblood of the play, much as it is for the characters involved. There’s nary a moment without a processed beat, booming bass line or vocal that harks back to another era as the play explores the legacy of a cultural movement that defined the hopes of a generation.
Nadia’s youthful exuberance sees the season as her moment to shine. In that delightful holiday between the dependence of school and the independence of university, her thoughts are full of plans and dreams for the future.
She is joined by a selection of others, all young but with their lives having taken them in very different directions. While she may not know some of them now, their lives will forever be changed by the actions of the summer.
With a Little Bit of Luck features Martyna Baker, whose self-penned songs are a heady mix of soul, indie, dance and world music, the result being a truly mesmerising and eclectic selection. Having written on Gorgon City’s top ten album ‘Sirens’, Martyna went on to work with House legend Todd Terry and Drum and Bass prodigy Lenzman.
Alongside this she has written and produced her debut EP ‘Fear the Fall’, which was released in November 2015. A regular on the London circuit, she also leads workshops with groups of vulnerable women helping them to express themselves through the medium of song to create a sense of support and community.
Gabriel Benn is a pianist, composer and electronic producer of a Jazz background, whose understanding and playing of musical styles has been enriched by years of travelling in Africa and South America. His projects Tuesday Born and The Busy Twist have received critical acclaim, earning him a reputation of an innovative music maker, reinventing famous garage classics.
Seroca Davies is an award-winning actress who has previously appeared across stage, television and film. Her TV credits include Doctor Who, The Jason Lewis Experience, That Mitchell and Webb Look and Prime Suspect.
With a Little Bit of Luck is at ERT on Saturday May 14 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £11 (students and concessions £9, under 16s £8). More information and tickets are available from the website: www.eastridingtheatre.co.uk
