Political and heartfelt immersive radio station.
Music brings power to the people and nothing can stand in the way of that.
Set against the backdrop of London in the mid-2000s, “Between the Lines” centres on Blaze FM, an illegal, DIY pirate radio station blasting grime and jungle from the confines of a Hackney council flat. The play expounds the importance of family, both related and unrelated, and in growing a community to speak the truth of our times.
Written by James Meteyard and directed by Maggie Norris, from the company The Big House, “Between the Lines” absorbs you into its world immediately. Upon entering the New Diorama Theatre you are met with an elaborately designed evocation of a council flat with Pritstick, played by Marcus Reiss, performing a DJ set until the show begins.
The immersion is furthered with characters fluidly entering and exiting, spitting bars and singing tunes while the rest of the ensemble hype them up. A fantastic sign of things to come, this free-flowing, laidback energy that is the ethos of Blaze FM permeates the structure of the play, allowing the audience to feel ensconced in the vibe of this location.
The character of Hughbert, a tour-de-force from actor Andrew Brown, is the patriarch, head of the radio station and father to two of the star roles, Aliaano El-Ali’s Alpha and Anais Lone’s Aisha. With the absence of their mother, this family’s tumultuous relationship is the emotional core of the play, anchoring us through all of the highs and lows.
Fighting to keep the station going amidst tragic losses and unbearable heartbreak, the ensemble of “Between the Lines” perfectly fit this slice of the world. Jammz provides thumping music composition and Tina Torbey’s set design, coupled with video design from Mic Pool, manifests this world as much as the acting does.
An emotional and entertaining rollercoaster ride with a painfully heartfelt truth, “Between the Lines” is a must see blend of music and theatre.