The Accordion Shop

In London, in 2011, the world went crazy for a few nights and chaos flooded the streets. Shops were smashed and looted, cars were set on fire and the Police were temporarily unable to cope. What made this situation so incendiary was that, for the very first time, social media played a huge part in spreading the word and inflaming the tension.

This is the background against which writer Cush Jumbo explores how it doesn't take much to kick start the mob but, equally, it only takes a single event to stop it in its tracks.

One day Mr Ellody steps out of the front door of his accordion shop to find the world has gone mad. Everyone has received a text message reading 'Riot. The Road. 7pm Tonight' like an episode of Dr Who where aliens call them to their demise. First the kids rush to find out what is happening and then the adults follow. The resulting mayhem quickly escalates into a full blown riot as an inadequate police force ineffectually tries to scatter the troublemakers. The, just as quickly as it rose up, it died down.

A large cast of talented youngsters create the chaotic night on a stage strewn with the mess that any inner city street is prone to.

This production is supported by both Curve Young Company and The National Theatre's Connections programme and will go on to be performed at Warwick Arts Centre. As part of Curve's Inside Out Festival it was especially aimed at teenagers and it was gratifying to see a large part of the audience was made up of family and friends; many, I am sure, in a live theatre for the first time. A very welcome added benefit of these new shows.

As the piece only lasted 30 minutes we wandered into the Lyric Lounge, the festival's FREE pop-up acoustic music stage in Curve's spacious foyer. We paused for 20 minutes to take in some mellow jazz hosted by local singer/writer Carol Leeming

The Inside Out Festival runs until 6 May. Full details at Inside Out website

First published in Western Gazette
© Paul Towers 29/4/2015