Nine Sixteenths – Pleasance Theatre

Nine Sixteenths, created and starring Paula Varjack, is a dynamic play centered on Black female role models and their portrayal in the music industry. The performance is short, fast-paced, and includes a few comical moments that had the audience laughing alongside the cast. The highlights included some spirited dancing and outrageously funny lip-syncing, adding a light-hearted touch to the production.

However, the play frequently broke the fourth wall, with Varjack sharing her motivations and inspirations behind the production—a choice that occasionally disrupted the flow. The central focus of the play was the cultural impact of Janet Jackson’s infamous Super Bowl moment, examining both how Jackson navigated this incident and how it reverberated across the industry, particularly for other Black female artists.

While the play aimed to shed light on the broader impact of this event, it missed an opportunity to delve deeply into how the music industry was influenced or changed by it. Instead, it repeatedly referenced the spectacle itself, with Varjack recounting her personal experience of watching it live, her emotions, and the significance of platforms like YouTube that allowed this event to be replayed and reinterpreted.

Although there were some interesting insights into those who profited from the incident, including looking at talk show hosts and producers etc, the play largely focused on retelling the story without exploring why it happened or its deeper implications.

Overall, Nine Sixteenths is an entertaining show with some fun moments and enjoyable lip singing to some nostalgic hits. However, ultimately, the show left me wanting more substance and more of a storyline. While it did prompt me to re-watch the Super Bowl incident on YouTube, I didn’t leave feeling inspired or having gained new insights into what happened or how it impacted the music industry or other black female role models. 

Reviewer: Zain Russell

Reviewed: 8^th November 2024

North West End UK Rating: