Dani Harris-Walters is the creative force behind CompanyDHW, a Hip-Hop theatre company known for its focus on community, authenticity, and inclusivity. Dani is bringing his new show, Go Grandad Go!, to audiences as part of the Greenwich + Docklands International Festival.
This show is commissioned by FESTIVAL.ORG for GDIF and supported by Without Walls, the Manchester based arts organisation dedicated to creating, developing and touring innovative outdoor works.
This free hip-hop dance show is a heart-warming, intergenerational story about family, culture, and redefining relationships across generations. This uplifting performance puts community, inclusivity, and high-energy hip-hop theatre centre stage, making it a show that will resonate with audiences of all ages.
You can catch Go Grandad Go! for free on Thursday 4th September, at the Greenwich + Docklands International Festival.
For more information:
- Greenwich + Docklands International Festival: GO GRANDAND, GO! | Greenwich + Docklands International Festival 2025
Go Grandad Go! sounds both joyful and moving. What first inspired you to tell this story of family and generations through Hip-Hop theatre?
My own family to be honest. Sometimes I would take my mum & sisters to watch other shows and their response would be “It looked alright, but I didn’t understand anything”. It made realise that there isn’t a lot of Hip Hop Theatre work that relate in an uplifting and entertaining way without being too thought-provoking or moody. I then present the idea of GGG to the creative team, we realised how similar our experiences with our grandparents, aunts and uncles were and how great it would be to present these stories on stage.
The show has been described as heart-warming and uplifting. Was there a particular moment in creating it that really captured that spirit for you?
I think every scene captures that heart-warming spirit but the journey scene for me stands out the most. Hearing the sounds of Lord Kitchener’s “London Is The Place For Me” fused with an eclectic jazzy house beat, seeing a proud Grandad interact and encourage his energetic and curious grandchildren, always brings a smile to my face (and I’ve watched this show many times.)
How do you balance the fun, high-energy side of Hip-Hop with the deeper, more emotional themes in the piece?
With the help of our dramaturg and co-writer, Ashley Joseph, we both use comedy as conduit to communicate and connect with audiences. Ashley has an amazing ability making emotional moments more meaningful and he is constantly reminding myself and the performers that we need to earn every moment, not matter how funny or sad.
You’re not only leading the show but also shaping it with your company, CompanyDHW. How does that sense of community and inclusivity guide your work on stage?
With the world always changing, it presents an opportunity to learn more and be more accessible, inclusive and innovative. As a company we are always thinking about how we can be more accessible and inclusive to audience that participate and spectate. At the moment we work regularly with youth groups and older social groups giving them the space to express creatively in a safe spaces with fun and enjoyment at the heart of it.
We work closely with our amazing vernacular artist and BSL interpreter Deborah McLeod and with this growing relationship she has connected us with a deaf actor Ryan Pendley who acts a consultant to help us reach and communicate with hearing impaired audiences more effectively. We have recently had workshop with audio describer Anne Hornsby and spent a day teaching us how to effectively deliver touch tours. We always try to give as much time and focus to accessibility because we understand how important it is to the experience of the audiences and its important to us to keep learning and get it right each time.
What do you hope audiences take away from Go Grandad Go! ?
We want just want to remind audiences that they are capable to succeed new challenges at any stage of their life.