Helen Murray
Upstaged Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
From the creators of Hot Brown Honey, which created a resounding buzz and satisfying sting when it played at HOME in 2017, comes Hive City Legacy. Unfortunately, I was one of the unlucky ones who missed out on Hot Brown Honey, so I was determined to make it into the hive for this new show.
Hive City Legacy raised the roof at HOME Manchester on the night I attended. Directed by Hot Brown Honey’s Lisa Fa’alafi, it’s a riotous 60-minute long cabaret showcase, written and developed by Busty Beatz and Yami Lofvenberg, featuring a hugely talented cast of nine femmes of colour, who took part in a paid programme with the Roundhouse in 2018.
Fierce, feisty and furious, Hive City Legacy digs deep into female empowerment, exploring the hangover of Empire and remnants of colonialism which run through contemporary society. It’s political and loud; funny and down-right uncomfortable at times; powerful, poetic and frenetic.
With a brilliant soundtrack, nine-strong warrior bees take to the stage to confront and challenge the hornet’s nest of patriarchy and racial discrimination, which has harmed and confined them at times throughout their lives. Tackling perceptions of Britishness, gender identity, mental health and the male gaze, Hive City Legacy uses a clever and vibrant mix of spoken word, diverse dance styles and circus. And despite the hard-hitting themes, this show is anything but downbeat.
Above everything, Hive City Legacy feels like a celebration. Swarming the stage, it is truly wonderful to watch such talented women take over the performance space at HOME, expressing how they really feel and demand that we watch.
-Kristy Stott
Hive City Legacy runs at HOME Manchester until Saturday 7th September 2019.