Rooms – Birmingham Hippodrome

I don’t think there are enough jaw-droppingly awesome words in my vocabulary to say how absolutely astonishing this production is. If you see one show this year Rooms should be it.

Imagine if you will, sitting in a train carriage and glimpsing into a series of lit rooms on a dark night. You can see the goings-on, the occupants, the lives – but only for a brief tantalising moment.

Now imagine stepping into that room; literally being in that room, such is the power of the close cinematography. Rambert’s 17 brilliant dancers will literally transform your life into their lives as their stories unfold over 36 scenes and involving 100 characters. Captivating and beautiful, funny and dark, their stories will surprise you, engulf you and become a part of you. Shot as if you are in the room, magnetically you will be pulled into their lives. The intimacy is overwhelming, the cleverness is mind-blowing.

This live dance-theatre-film premiere from Norwegian choreographer and theatre and film director, Jo Strømgren, is the most spectacular and stunning production in digital theatre. My jaw is still on the floor.

Reviewer: Samantha Collett

Reviewed: 9^th April 2021

North West End UK Rating: ★★★★★