š Roshni
š The Drum, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Royal Parade, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 2TRĀ
š Thursday 6th March 2025
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A TRULY UNIQUE PIECE OF THEATRE
Unlike anything I've seen before, ROSHNI is wonderful escapism featuring South East Asian dance and music and is playing this week in The Drum at Theatre Royal Plymouth, where I was invited to review the show.
The title of the production comes from the Persian word meaning light or brilliance, and the evening was broken down into three distinct pieces - The Call, The Light and The Waves - gracefully transporting the audience into a place of enlightenment.
Featuring live musicians, there was a real feeling of authenticity about the piece. The dance was choreographed and performed by Sonia Sabri who was absolutely mesmerising. You felt the meaning behind every movement. She lived the piece absolutely and her storytelling was incredible.
Rooted in the traditional Kathak style of dance from Northern India, Sabri integrated her lived British experience into the performance, resulting in a monumental joyous explosion of utter brilliance that was truly unique. She formed a wonderful kinship with her audience, and I loved her interactions as she brought us deeper into the action.
Breaking away from the dance to speak to and connect with her audience was a bold move, but also a genius one. Never boring us or taking away from the dance performances, her words were engaging, informative and fascinating. Sabri has a natural warmth which draws you to her and her joyful nature and obvious love of her craft was infectious.
For a performer to hold the attention for as long as she did is breathtaking. It was as if I didn't want to blink for fear of missing out. I'm happy to admit that I am a complete novice when it comes to this style of dance, but the passion and enthusiasm that were expressed on the stage were enough to completely draw me in.
When the storytelling is as good as it is here, there is no need for sets or fancy lighting design. The simplicity of these technicalities removed any distraction from the incredible elegance on display.
The brilliance of ROSHNI comes from a complete understanding of the art form by the creatives, and the grace of Sabri's performance. It was as if she became one entity with the musicians - Sarver Sabri, Sam Slater and Dominic O'Sullivan - as the four of them poured their heart and soul into the performance. Time seemed to stand still as I became more and more transfixed by the unfolding beauty.
The audience interaction here was cleverly done and created a real sense of community in the auditorium. ROSHNI is a shining beacon of positivity that should be experienced by everyone.
If you like dance then you'll fall in love with ROSHNI. Performances continue in The Drum at Theatre Royal Plymouth until Saturday 8th March. CLICK HERE to check availability and to book tickets.
Neill Kovacic-Clarke
All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one person.
My ticket for this performance of Roshni was gifted by the Theatre Royal Plymouth who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given.
ARTISTIC TEAM:
Sonia Sabri - Artistic Director, Choreographer and Dance Artist; Sarvar Sabri - Musical Director and Tabla Artist; Sam Slater - Guitar and Oud; Dominic O'Sullivan - Clarinet and Flute; Mick Diver - Technical Manager
RUNNING TIME (approx):
1 hour 20 minutes, with no interval
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